Sir Christemas

General information

Lyricist: Anonymous 15th century.

Settings by composers

• Geoff Allan SATB
• Harrison Hackett SATB
• Peter Smith SATB

Texts and Translations

English and French text

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell.
Who is there that singeth so,
Nowell.

I am here, Sir Christemas.
Welcome, my lord Sir Christemas!
Welcome to us all, both more and less!
Come near, Nowell.

Dieu vous garde, beaux sieurs, tidings I you bring:
A maid hath borne a child full young,
The which causeth you for to sing:
Nowell.

Christ is now born of a pure maid;
In an ox-stall he is laid,
Wherefore sing we all at a brayde:
Nowell.

Buvez bien par toute la compagnie,
Make good cheer and be right merry,
And sing with us now joyfully:
Nowell.