Good King Wenceslas
ピーター・ナイト指揮オーケストラ & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus Lyrics
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On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel
Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain
Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather
Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer.
Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shall find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing
"Good King Wenceslas" is a traditional Christmas carol that tells the story of a kind and generous king, Wenceslas, who goes out on the feast of Stephen (the day after Christmas) to help a poor man in need during a harsh winter.
The lyrics begin by describing how King Wenceslas looks out and sees the snow-covered landscape on the feast of Stephen. Despite the cold and cruel frost, the moon shines brightly. It is in this moment that he spots a poor man who is gathering winter fuel, likely sticks and branches to keep warm. This sight moves the king to take action and help the man.
Asking his page to stand by him, King Wenceslas inquires about the peasant's identity and where he lives. The page informs the king that the man lives a good distance away, beneath the mountain near Saint Agnes' fountain, next to the forest fence.
Motivated to bring assistance, the king requests his page to bring him food, wine, and logs made of pine. Together, they will go and have a meal with the poor man when they find him. The king and his loyal page venture out into the bitter and windy weather, braving the harsh conditions to reach the destitute man.
However, during their journey, the page expresses concern about the increasing darkness and stronger winds, feeling unsure if he can continue. The king encourages him to follow in his footsteps, assuring him that by doing so, the bitter cold of winter will have a lesser effect on him.
As they approach the poor man's location, the lyrics suggest that there is a special warmth underfoot, indicating that the very ground itself was warmed by the presence of a saint who had passed by. The song then emphasizes the message that any Christian who has wealth or rank should follow King Wenceslas' example and extend their blessings to the poor, as in doing so, they too will find blessings bestowed upon them.
In summary, "Good King Wenceslas" tells the story of a benevolent king who ventures out to help a poor man in harsh winter conditions, inspiring listeners to remember the importance of helping those in need and highlighting the mutual blessings that come from acts of kindness and generosity.
Line by Line Meaning
Good King Wenceslas looked out
The noble King Wenceslas peered outside
On the feast of Stephen
During the holiday of Saint Stephen
When the snow lay round about
While the snow surrounded everything
Deep and crisp and even
Thick, fresh, and smooth
Brightly shone the moon that night
The moon illuminated the night brilliantly
Though the frost was cruel
Despite the harshness of the freezing cold
When a poor man came in sight
When a destitute man appeared
Gath'ring winter fuel
Collecting firewood for the winter
Hither, page, and stand by me
Come here, servant, and stand beside me
If thou know'st it, telling
If you know, inform me
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Who is that peasant over there?
Where and what his dwelling?
Where does he live and what is his home like?
Sire, he lives a good league hence
Sir, he lives a fair distance away
Underneath the mountain
Underneath the mountain's shadow
Right against the forest fence
Close to the edge of the forest
By Saint Agnes' fountain
Next to the fountain of Saint Agnes
Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Fetch me meat and fetch me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Bring me pine logs here
Thou and I will see him dine
You and I will witness him feast
When we bear him thither
When we accompany him there
Page and monarch forth they went
The servant and the king set out
Forth they went together
They departed as a united duo
Through the rude wind's wild lament
Against the harsh wind's sorrowful cry
And the bitter weather
And the bitter cold climate
Sire, the night is darker now
Sir, the night has become even darker
And the wind blows stronger
And the wind blows more forcefully
Fails my heart, I know not how
My heart weakens, I cannot explain why
I can go no longer.
I can no longer continue.
Mark my footsteps, my good page
Take note of my footsteps, my loyal servant
Tread thou in them boldly
Step in them confidently
Thou shall find the winter's rage
You will witness the fury of winter
Freeze thy blood less coldly.
But it will freeze your blood less harshly.
In his master's steps he trod
He followed in his master's footsteps
Where the snow lay dinted
Where the snow was marked
Heat was in the very sod
There was warmth in the ground itself
Which the Saint had printed
Impressed by the Saint's presence
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Hence, be certain, Christian men,
Wealth or rank possessing
Whether you possess wealth or high status
Ye who now will bless the poor
Those of you who will now bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing
You will discover blessings for yourselves
Lyrics © DISK EYES MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind