Lyr Req: Sailors' Carol (from Gordon Bok)

Subject: Lyr Add: SAILORS CAROL (from Gordon Bok)
From: GUEST,Terry Dawson
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 09:55 AM

I've been trying to figure out the entire lyric to Gordon Bok's "Sailors Carol." I've only heard it as a tape of a radio show, so the sound quality is not the greatest. Here's the best I can make it out, with considerable uncertainty; if anyone can improve on it, I'd be grateful:

Sailors Carol
by Gordon Bok

For the snowful sky, in this pale December
Fingers my clear eye, lest seeing I remember
Not the naked baby weeping in the stable
Nor the singing voice all round my table

Not the dizzy star bursting on the babe
Nor the leopard sun pawing the rain
Only the deep garden where green lilies grow
And the sailors rowing on the seas' blue snow

For the snowful sky, in this pale December
Fingers my clear eye, lest seeing I remember
Only the deep garden where green lilies glow
And the sailors rowing on the seas' blue snow

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bok - Sailors' Carol
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 10:53 AM

This song is not in Bok's most recent songbook: ONE TO SING, ONE TO HAUL. Any idea what CD it's on?

Charley Noble

Subject: ADD: Bok - Sailors' Carol (Charles Causley)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 02:09 PM

Hi, Terry - the song is on Bok's Schooners CD. Everty song on the CD is a wonderful story. You can get the CD at Folk-Legacy Records, 800-836-0901; or at Bok's Website, http://www.gordonbok.com.

Sailor's Carol
Words: Charles Causley; Music & Arrangement © Gordon Bok

Lord, the snowful sky
In this pale December
Fingers my clear eye
Lest seeing I remember

Not the naked baby
Weeping in the stable
Nor the singing boys
All round my table.

Not the dizzy star
Bursting on the pane
Nor the leopard sun
Pawing the rain

Only the deep garden
Where green lillies grow
And the sailors rolling
In the sea's blue snow.

Bok's notes: Kate Barnes of Appleton, Maine, sent me this poem. After thinking about it for a couple of years I spent the corners of a winter working out this tune and arranging it for the chorus. The Quasi Modals, of course, helped me sort out the problems (we're still working on that part).