I know the last verse of that "Down in Yon Forest" version as:

Over that bed the moon shines bright,
The bells of Paradise, I heard them ring,
Denoting our Savior was born this night,
And I love my Lord Jesus above any thing.

but I can't remember where I learned it. That, however, would certainly make it a nativity carol. The two texts I referred to earlier both end with verses like:

At that bed's head there standeth a stone,
Corpus Christi written thereon.

indicating that it is, rather, a crucifixion carol. I suspect that this is the older, but I have no positive evidence to quote. At times like this, we have to holler for Bruce O. to come and straighten us out. BRUCE! Where are you?

Sandy

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