Download Christmas Song in Old English [God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen] | The Skaldic Bard MP3 Song Free

Official Description & Notes

Here is my translation, arrangement and performance of the traditional English Christmas song “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” in Old English. My wife joins me in the latter part of the song. The song in its bare form dates back to a manuscript from the 1650s. The subtitles show the Old English in the middle with the literal translation above and the original text below.

I love the note progression in this song and have always thought it would sound cool played in a more intense/slightly “dark” way, bringing the oomph out of those minor notes, which is what I have tried to do here. It makes me think of the gravity of the fact that the Saviour is born to free man from sin - not something to be taken lightly!

I have maintained the original ABCBDB rhyming scheme of the original song and tried to keep the meaning as close to the original as possible - all except for one anachronism in the original which wouldn’t work in Old English, namely the reference to Christmas being the holy tide “which all others doth deface”, as it is reckoned that Easter was considered the most important festival in mediaeval times.

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Cheers!

Lyrics:
Lā, lēof! God blissiġe ēow,
Lo, sirs! May God gladden you,

ne bēo ēower mōd græġ,
let not your mood be grey,

forþām þe Crīst sē Hǣlend wōc
for Christ the Saviour was born

on Cristes mæssedæġ.
on Christmas Day.

Fram Dēofle ūs tō nerienne
To save us from the Devil

hwænne æcþ synna wǣġ.
when the weight of sin aches.

Lā! Þæt wæs blīþe willspell!
Lo! They were pleasant, welcome tidings!

Blīþe willspell!
Pleasant, welcome tidings!

Lā! Þæt wæs blīþe willspell!
Lo! They were pleasant, welcome tidings!

Of Gode Wealdendfæder
From God the Almighty Father

cwōm ān heofonengel
a heavenly angel came

þe sumum sċēaphierdum
who to some shepherds

bodode þæt willspell:
proclaimed those welcome tidings:

Þæt on Hlāfhūse wæs ġeboren
That in Bethlehem was born

Godbearn, ūre Strenġel.
The Son of God, our Ruler.

Lā! Þæt wæs blīþe willspell!
Lo! They were pleasant, welcome tidings!

Blīþe willspell!
Pleasant, welcome tidings!

Lā! Þæt wæs blīþe willspell!
Lo! They were pleasant, welcome tidings!

Þā sċēaphierdas þæs spelles
The shepherds at those tidings

mid hyġe fæġnodon.
in their hearts rejoiced.

And on unġewyderum
And in bad weather

heora ēowd beglidon.
abandoned their herd.

Tō Hlāfhūse þæt ċild tō findenne
To Bethlehem to find the child

þā ēodon.
they then went.

Lā! Þæt wæs blīþe willspell!
Lo! They were pleasant, welcome tidings!

Blīþe willspell!
Pleasant, welcome tidings!

Lā! Þæt wæs blīþe willspell!
Lo! They were pleasant, welcome tidings!

Þā hīe tō Hlāfhūse cwōmon
When they came to Bethlehem

þǣr þæt ċild āleġd wæs,
where the child was laid,

ġefundon Hine on binne
they found Him in a manger

þǣr oxan etaþ græs.
where oxen eat grass.

His mōdor for Him cnēowlode
His mother knelt before Him

biddende ǣwfæst.
praying with utmost piety.

Lā! Þæt wæs blīþe willspell!
Lo! They were pleasant, welcome tidings!

Blīþe willspell!
Pleasant, welcome tidings!

Lā! Þæt wæs blīþe willspell!
Lo! They were pleasant, welcome tidings!

Heriaþ nū ūrne Dryhten,
Praise now our Lord,

ġe þe ġeador sind hēr.
ye who are gathered here.

And mid sōþum frēondsċipe
And with true friendship

openiaþ fæþm ēowern’.
open your embrace.

Frēod him þe Cristes mæssen
Good will to those who Christmas

frēolsiaþ ǣġhwēr.
celebrate everywhere.

Lā! Þæt wæs blīþe willspell!
Lo! They were pleasant, welcome tidings!

Blīþe willspell!
Pleasant, welcome tidings!

Lā! Þæt wæs blīþe willspell!
Lo! They were pleasant, welcome tidings!
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