A Hymn to the Virgin Songtext
von Elora Festival Singers, Noel Edison

A Virgin Most Pure

A virgin most pure, as the Prophets do tell,
Hath brought forth a baby, as it hath befell,
To be our Redeemer from death, hell and sin,
Which Adam's transgression had wrapped us in.

Aye, and therefore be you merry,
Rejoice and be you merry,
Set sorrow aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.

In Bethlehem Jewry a City there was
Where Joseph and Mary together did pass,
And there to be taxed, with many one more,
For Caesar commanded the same should be so.


Aye, and therefore be you merry,
Rejoice and be you merry,
Set sorrow aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.

Then God sent an Angel from Heaven so high,
To certain poor Shepherds in fields where they lie,
And bade them no longer in sorrow to stay,
Because that our Saviour was born on this day.

Aye, and therefore be you merry,
Rejoice and be you merry,
Set sorrow aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.

Then presently after the Shepherds did spy
A number of angels that stood in the sky;
They joyfully talked and sweetly did sing,
To God be all glory our Heavenly King.

Aye, and therefore be you merry,
Rejoice and be you merry,
Set sorrow aside;
Christ Jesus our Saviour was born on this tide.