I have a version called "The Moon Shines Bright" on a Ramsbottom album with the following notes:

"Collected in Sussex by Lucy F. Broadwood from the Gypsy family Groby. This is one of numerous versions of the carol, sung with suitable adaptations at Christmas or Easter. We use it at the end of our Father Christmas guising play."

I can't do the HTML thing cos I am thick, so here are the words:

O the moon shines bright and the stars give a light/ O a little before the day/ Our Lord, our God, He calls upon us all/ and bids us awake and pray.

Awake, awake, good people all/ and listen, and you shall hear/ Our blessed Saviour died upon the cross/ saying Christ loved us so dear.

So dear, so dear Christ loveth us/ that for our sins was slain/ We'll all leave off our wicked, wicked ways/ and turn to the Lord again. O the life of a man it is but a span/ he flourishes like a flower./ He is here today, then tomorrow he is gone/ and he's dead all in an hour.

O teach tour children well, good man/ as long as ere you may/ for it might be better for your sweet soul/ when your body lies under the clay.

There's a green turf at your head, good man/ and another at your feet./ God bless you all, both great and small/ and I hope you a happy New Year.

This is, in fact another version of the Bellman's song which is to be found in the Oxford Book of Carols, along with the tune the above version is sung to. (Collected by Lucy Broadwood in 1894). There are 2 other tunes also given.

Andrea