Good tidings of great joy.
Luke 2:10
Words & Music: Evidently an old French carol from the Besançon region (On vint de nous aipoutha). Translated from French to English by John O’Connor (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know when the translation was done, or where to get a good picture of O’Connor (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
We’ve been told a joyful thing,
News for all the nations.
Angels have been heard to sing
Round the shepherd stations,
One intoned the Gloria,
Others Alleluia
;
Peace to all things human;
War no more for true man.
Up and get you quickly there
Folk of field and village!
Over to that stable bare
Up beyond the tillage.
There you’ll find a Baby born
Old before His mother’s morn
Young with dewy splendor
Of parent stem so tender.
So we come to pay our vows:
Hail! God save thee, Mary!
Joseph, man of this poor house,
Fortune seems contrary.
Let us look on Christ the Lord,
That was sure the angel’s word.
Swathèd in a manger,
Welcome, Holy Stranger!