Peter, Paul and Mary sing a beautiful song on their Holiday concert CD/album called The Magi, which is very slightly Christmassy and being old-timey, sounds sexist (I sang something about goodwill to men the other day, and one of my twins asked What about goodwill to women?) although it is not intended as such. I will list their lyrics below mine, since neither is in the Trad.

Please note that in my version, "light" is a metaphor both for the longer days of summer and for knowledge and ken, while dark is both a metaphor for winter and short days as well as for ignorance.

THE MAGNON

Tune and original lyrics from The Magi as sung by Peter, Paul & Mary on the Holiday cd

New lyrics by Mrrzy, Winter 2002

Ancient humans came from darkness and they wandered o'er the planet
They saw the sky above them, and they learned to find their way
Out of ignorance and shadow to the hope of human kindness
They were strengthened by the vision of a new and brighter day
And all wise folk speak of peace on earth, of harmony and struggle
Yet another cycle's gone, and a new one will begin
On the darkest day of winter, we all know that the Spring will come again
On the darkest day of winter, we cherish light with green and kith and kin...
Well now, each of us must travel, yes we all must make our journey
It seems that time is telling us to be all we can know
To help lift up the fallen and to sow the seeds of goodness
The torch has passed among us now to light the way to go
For our hearts are as a chalice, and our dreams are of the sunlight
They burn away the darkness as we kiss 'neath mistletoe
Unlike eagles, flying higher, unlike rivers down their canyons
When diamond stars shine down on us, we know whereof they glow...
And the wise still speak of peace on earth, of harmony and struggle
Yet another cycle's gone, and a new one will begin
On the darkest day of winter, we remember that the Spring will come again
On the darkest day of winter, we cherish light with green and kith and kin...

And now, the original:

THE MAGI

Peter, Paul and Mary, on their Holiday CD

O the Magi were the prophets and they wandered through the desert
They saw the sky above them, and they knew they'd find their way
Through the valley of the shadow and the hope of human kindness
They were strengthened by the vision of a new and brighter day
And the wise men spoke of peace on earth, of harmony and struggle
Know ye now, a cycle's gone, and a new one is revealed
In the weaving of your fingers, a whisper of the love that's born again
In the weaving of your fingers, in a story that was told that never ends...
Well now, each man is a pilgrim, yes we all must make our journey
It seems that time is telling us to be all we can can
To help lift up the fallen we must sow the seeds of goodness
The torch has passed among us now to light the way of man
For the heart of man's a palace, and his dreams are as the sunlight
They burn away the darkness as they warm the freezing cold
Like an eagle, flying higher, like a river down a canyon
The diamond stars shine down upon the pathway to the soul...
And the wise men spoke of peace on earth, of harmony and struggle
Know ye now, a cycle's gone, and a new one is revealed
In the weaving of your fingers, a whisper of the love that's born again
In the weaving of your fingers, in a promise that was made that never ends...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTn6xGrtNR4