Good King Wenceslas
Choir Of Westminster Abbey [Choir] Lyrics

Good King Wenceslas looked out
King Wenceslas peered outside

On the feast of Stephen,
The day after Christmas day

When the snow lay round about,
Snow covered everything

Deep and crisp and even.
The snow was dense, refreshing and uniform

Brightly shown the moon that night,
The moon was luminous that night

Though the frost was cruel,
The cold was bitter

When a poor man came in sight,
He saw a destitute man in the distance

Gathering winter fuel.
Collecting firewood for warmth

Hither, page, and stand by me.
Come to me, assistant, and stand next to me

If thou know it telling:
Do you know who he is?

Yonder peasant, who is he?
Who is that man in the distance?

Where and what his dwelling?
Where does he live and what does he do?

Sire, he lives a good league hence,
He lives about three miles away

Underneath the mountain,
Beneath the mountain

Right against the forest fence
Next to the forest border

By Saint Agnes fountain.
Near the fountain of St. Agnes

Bring me flesh, and bring me wine.
Bring me meat and wine

Bring me pine logs hither.
Bring some pine logs here

Thou and I will see him dine
You and I will watch him eat

When we bear the thither.
When we take these provisions to him there

Page and monarch, forth they went,
The assistant and the king departed together

Forth they went together
They left together

Through the rude wind's wild lament
Through the wild howling of the wind

And the bitter weather.
And the bitter cold

Sire, the night is darker now,
Your Highness, it’s even darker now

And the wind blows stronger.
And the wind is even stronger

Fails my heart, I know not how.
My courage is failing, I don't know why.

I can go no longer.
I cannot keep going.

Ark my footsteps my good page,
Listen to and follow my steps, my good assistant,

Tread thou in them boldly:
Step boldly where I have stepped,

Thou shalt find the winter's rage
You will feel the anger of winter,

Freeze thy blood less coldly.
But your blood will freeze less coldly.

In his master's step he trod,
The assistant followed his master’s footsteps,

Where the snow lay dented.
Where the snow had been disturbed.

Heat was in the very sod
There was heat in the ground itself

Which the saint had printed.
Where the saint had walked before.

Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
So, Christians, be completely confident,

Wealth or rank possessing,
Whether you possess wealth or rank,

Ye who now will bless the poor
Those of you who bless the poor

Shall yourselves find blessing.
Will find blessings for yourselves.