The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #28247   Message #352022
Posted By: Parson
05-Dec-00 - 06:50 PM
Thread Name: Origin: Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella
Subject: Lyr Add: BRING A TORCH, JEANNETTE, ISABELLA
Hi Liland,

My version does have the rhyming any better than yours and I only have 3 verses, though they are very similar to 3 of yours.

I have:

Bring a torch, Jeannette, Isabella!
Bring a torch to the cradle, run!
It is Jesus, good folk of the village;
Christ is born and Mary's calling;
Ah! Ah! Beautiful is the Mother!
Ah! Ah! Beautiful is the Son!

It is wrong when the child is sleeping,
It is wrong to talk so loud;
Silence, all, as you gather around Him,
Lest your noise shall Jesus; (?) (*)
Hush! Hush! See how fast He slumbers,
Hush! Hush! See how fast he sleeps!

Softly to the little stable,
Softly for a moment to come;
Look and see how charming is Jesus,
How He is white, His cheeks are rosy!
Hush! Hush! See how the Child is sleeping;
Hush! Hush! See how He smiles and dreams.

(*) I don't get it either, but that's what it says. Probably should be, "Lest your noise shall wake Jesus" or "Lest your noise wake Jesus."