Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings
Christmas 2011
December 7
Welsh Carol
Performed by Greg Barlow on banjo, egg shaker, jingle bells, washboard, and wooden spoons
Words: "Roedd yn y wlad honno" paraphrased by K.E. Roberts
Music: Welsh traditional, arranged by Dr. Caradog Roberts
Welsh Carol is an English paraphrase of the traditional Welsh carol "Roedd yn y wlad honno", which translates as "There was in that country". I could not find much information about this carol, but I quite liked the tune.
Lyrics
Awake were they only, those shepherds so lonely,
On guard in that silence profound:
When colour had faded, when nighttime had shaded
Their senses from sight and from sound,
Lo, then broke a wonder, then drifted asunder
The veils from the splendour of God,
When light from the holy came down to the lowly,
And heav'n to the earth that they trod.
Lo, then broke a wonder, then drifted asunder
The veils from the splendour of God,
When light from the holy came down to the lowly,
And heav'n to the earth that they trod.
May light now enfold us, O Lord, for behold us
Like shepherds, from tumult withdrawn,
Nor hearing, nor seeing, all other care fleeing,
We wait the ineffable dawn.
O Spirit all-knowing, thou source overflowing,
O move in the darkness around,
That sight may be in us, true hearing to win us
Glad tidings where Christ may be found.
O Spirit all-knowing, thou source overflowing,
O move in the darkness around,
That sight may be in us, true hearing to win us
Glad tidings where Christ may be found.
Sources and more information
- Oxford Book of Carols, 1964.