A book called A Shepherd's Life made me wonder what shepherds in 19th century England made of the Christmas story. That was many years ago, but this resulting song has hardly had an airing because it is too sad for Christmas. Also, the tune Wild Mountain Thyme is now too well known to use.

GLASTON NATIVITY
(Keith A)

Twas a bleak December night,
And the downs lay white and frozen,
When the angels came again,
To some shepherds they had chosen.

Will you go shepherds go,
To high Glastonbury,
Where Christ is come again,
To the poor the weak and weary,
Will you go shepherds go.

If the Christ be come again,
Then tis for the priest and squire,
Down in their lofty houses,
A feasting by the fire.

Would you have us go in rags,
In filth disease and hunger,
For to see a new born King,
In a palace or a manger.

Then the angels told again,
The ancient Christmas story,
How the shepherds left the hillside,
Bringing gifts of lambs so freely.

If we left our flocks to stray,
Both our work and homes we'd forfeit,
If we took a single lamb,
We would know a rope and gibbet.

In yon hovel on the downside,
My three children all are starving,
While their mother hides her face,
For she cannot soothe their crying.

And the angels they fell silent,
And the Christchild he fell crying,
For the lonely cruel death,
That he must evermore be dying.