Good King Wenceslas
Good King Wenceslas: A Tale of Generosity
Lyrics
Good King Wenceslas looked out
Good King Wenceslas observed
On the Feast of Stephen
On the day of Saint Stephen's Feast
When the snow lay round about
When the snow covered the ground
Deep and crisp and even
Thick, pure, and level
Brightly shone the moon that night
The moon was shining brightly
Though the frost was cruel
Despite the harsh cold
When a poor man came in sight
When a poor man appeared
Gathering winter fuel
Gathering wood for winter
Hither, page, and stand by me,
Come here, servant, and stay with me
If thou knowst it, telling
If you know, tell me
Yonder peasant, who is he?
That peasant over there, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
Where does he live and what's his home like?
Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Sire, he lives a considerable distance away
Underneath the mountain
Beneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
Just beside the forest boundary
By Saint Agnes fountain.
Close to Saint Agnes' fountain
Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me food and wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Bring pine logs here
Thou and I shall see him dine
You and I will watch him dine
When we bear them thither.
When we take them there
Page and monarch, forth they went
Page and king, they went out
Forth they went together
They both went forth together
Through the rude winds wild lament
Through the harsh and mournful winds
And the bitter weather
And the biting cold
Sire, the night is darker now
Sire, the night is now even darker
And the wind blows stronger
And the wind blows fiercer
Fails my heart, I know not how
My heart fails, I can't continue
I can go no longer.
I can't go any further
Mark my footsteps, good my page
Follow my footsteps, my good servant
Tread thou in them boldly
Walk confidently in them
Thou shall find the winters rage
You'll feel the winter's wrath
Freeze thy blood less coldly.
But it'll freeze you less severely
In his masters step he trod
He trod in his master's footsteps
Where the snow lay dinted
Where the snow was marked
Heat was in the very sod
There was warmth in the very ground
Which the Saint had printed
Where the Saint had walked
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Therefore, people of faith, be certain
Wealth or rank possessing
Regardless of your wealth or status
Ye, who now will bless the poor
You who now bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
You'll yourselves receive blessings
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