Word from an Old Spanish Carol
Shall I tell you who will come
To Bethlehem on Christmas morn,
Who will kneel gently down
Before the Lord, newborn?
One small fish from the river,
With scales of red, red gold.
One wild bee from the heather,
One grey lamb from the fold,
One ox from the high pasture,
One black bull from the herd,
One goatling from the far hills,
One white, white bird.
[The following are sung simultaneously:]
[Male voices:] [Female voices:]
One large fish from the sea, One small fish from the river,
Too shiny to behold, With scales of red, red gold.
One tame moth from a tree, One wild bee from the heather,
Sable stoled, One grey lamb from the fold,
One colt from greet meadows, One ox from the high pasture,
One bear cub fat and furred, One black bull from the herd,
One goatling and One goatling from the far hills,
One white, white bird. One white, white bird.
And many children,
God gave them grace,
Bringing tall candles
To light Mary's face.
[The following are sung simultaneously:]
[Male voices:] [Female voices:]
Shall I tell you One small fish from the river,
Who will come With scales of red and gold.
To Bethlehem One wild bee from the heather,
On Christmas morn, One grey lamb from the fold,
Who will kneel them gently down One ox from the high pasture,
Before the Lord, newborn? One black bull from the herd,
One goatling from the forest,
One white, white bird.
White bird.
White bird.
(White bird.)
White bird.
White, white bird.
(White bird.)
(White, white bird.)
White, white bird.