The Irish Rovers
The Irish Rovers - Good King Wenceslas songtekst
Je score:
Over deze songtekst:
John Mason Neale schreef dit kerstlied in 1853.
Het lied gaat over de Boheemse koning Wenceslas (907 - 935) die een rondreis maakt. Bohemen is nu een deel van Tsjechie. Op de feestdag van Stephen (= Stefanus) ziet de koning een man hout sprokkelen. Hij wil hem wat geld geven. De feestdag van Stefanus noemen wij 2de kerstdag.
Wenceslas is heilig verklaard door de RK kerk.
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 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 Bring me meat and bring me wine, bring me pinelogs hither Thou and I will 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 Sire the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger Fails my heart I know now how, I can go no longer Mark my footsteps my good page, tread thou in them boldly Thou shalt find the winter's rage freeze thy blood less coldly In his master's steps 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