Good King Wenceslas
CHRISTMAS / ENGLISH / JOHN MASON NEALE / THOMAS HELMORE
Composer:
Thomas Helmore, John Mason Neale – Good King Wenceslas
Known singers:
Benjamin Luxon, Aled Jones, Westminster Cathedral Choir – Good King Wenceslas
Bing Crosby – Good King Wenceslas
The Ames Brothers – Good King Wenceslas
The Five Fifths – Good King Wenceslas
The Irish Rovers – Good King Wenceslas
Lyrics
Verse 1 Good King Wenceslas looked out On the Feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about Deep and crisp and even Brightly shone the moon that night Though the frost was cruel When a poor man came in sight Gathering winter fuel Verse 2 Hither, page, and stand by me, If thou knowst it, telling Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling? Sire, he lives a good league hence, Underneath the mountain Right against the forest fence By Saint Agnes fountain. Verse 3 Bring me flesh and bring me wine Bring me pine logs hither Thou and I shall see him dine When we bear them thither. Page and monarch, forth they went Forth they went together Through the rude winds wild lament And the bitter weather Verse 4 Sire, the night is darker now And the wind blows stronger Fails my heart, I know not how I can go no longer. Mark my footsteps, good my page Tread thou in them boldly Thou shall find the winters rage Freeze thy blood less coldly. Verse 5 In his masters step he trod Where the snow lay dinted Heat was in the very sod Which the Saint had printed Therefore, Christian men, be sure Wealth or rank possessing Ye, who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing.
Chords
[Verse 1]
G Em C G
Good King Wenceslas looked out On the Feast of Stephen
G Em C G
When the snow lay round about deep and crisp and even
G Em C G
Brightly shone the moon that night though the frost was cruel
G Em C G Cadd9 G
When a poor man came in sight gathering winter fu – el[Verse 2]
G Em C G
“Hither, page, and stand by me If thou know’st it, telling,
G Em C G
Yonder peasant, who is he? where and what his dwelling?”
G Em C G
“Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain;
G Em C G Cadd9 G
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes’ foun – tain.”[Verse 3]
G Em C G
“Bring me flesh, and bring me wine bring me pine logs hither;
G Em C G
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither.”
G Em C G
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;
G Em C G Cadd9 G
Through the rude wind’s wild lament and the bitter wea – ther.[Verse 4]
G Em C G
“Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger;
G Em C G
Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer.”
G Em C G
“Mark my footsteps, my good page; tread thou in them boldly.
G Em C G Cadd9 G
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage, freeze thy blood less cold – ly.”[Verse 5]
G Em C G
In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted.
G Em C G
Heat was in the very sod which the Saint had printed.
G Em C G
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank pos-sessing;
G Em C G Cadd9 G
Ye who will now bless the poor, shall yourselves find bles – sing.
Videos
Audios
Benjamin Luxon, Aled Jones, Westminster Cathedral Choir – Good King Wenceslas
Bing Crosby – Good King Wenceslas
The Ames Brothers – Good King Wenceslas
The Five Fifths – Good King Wenceslas
The Irish Rovers – Good King Wenceslas
Image