Good King Wenceslas
Concino Children's Chorus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The song "Good King Wenceslas" tells the story of a kind-hearted king named Wenceslas who helps a poor man on a cold winter's night. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the scene as the king looks out on the feast of Stephen, which is celebrated on December 26th. This is a time when the snow is deep, crisp, and even, and the moon shines brightly, despite the bitter cold.
As the king gazes out, he sees a poor man gathering winter fuel, most likely in an effort to keep warm. Wenceslas calls his page and asks him about the peasant, wanting to know who he is and where he lives. The page informs the king that the peasant lives a good distance away, underneath a mountain near the forest, close to Saint Agnes' fountain.
Feeling compassion for the poor man, Wenceslas instructs his page to bring him food and wine and to gather pine logs to help keep him warm. The king and the page set off together, braving the harsh wind and bitter weather to bring comfort to the peasant. The page expresses his doubts about being able to continue due to the worsening conditions, but the king encourages him to follow in his footsteps and promises that his blood will not feel the winter's rage as strongly.
As they make their way through the snow, the page realizes that even the ground is warm where Wenceslas has walked. This signifies the saintly nature of the king and emphasizes his virtue and goodness. The song concludes with a powerful message about the importance of helping the poor and how those who bless the less fortunate will find blessings themselves.
Overall, "Good King Wenceslas" is a heartwarming tale of generosity and compassion, highlighting the importance of caring for those in need, especially during times of hardship. It reminds listeners of the power of empathy and the potential for goodness within all individuals, regardless of their wealth or social standing.
Line by Line Meaning
Good King Wenceslas looked out
The noble King Wenceslas peered outside
On the feast of Stephen
During the celebration of Saint Stephen
When the snow lay round about
With snow covering the land
Deep and crisp and even
Immaculate and smooth
Brightly shone the moon that night
The moon radiated brilliantly
Though the frost was cruel
Despite the harsh coldness
When a poor man came in sight
When a destitute man appeared
Gath'ring winter fuel
Gathering firewood to survive the winter
Hither, page, and stand by me
Come here, servant, and stand beside me
If thou know'st it, telling
If you are familiar with his identity, inform me
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Who is that commoner over there?
Where and what his dwelling?
Where does he live and what is his abode like?
Sire, he lives a good league hence
My lord, he resides a fair distance away
Underneath the mountain
Below the towering mountain
Right against the forest fence
Directly beside the forest boundary
By Saint Agnes' fountain
Next to the fountain dedicated to Saint Agnes
Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Fetch me food and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Carry pine logs over here
Thou and I will see him dine
You and I will witness his meal
When we bear him thither
When we escort him to this place
Page and monarch forth they went
Servant and king embarked on their journey
Forth they went together
They proceeded as companions
Through the rude wind's wild lament
Amidst the harsh wind's sorrowful cry
And the bitter weather
And the unforgiving climate
Sire, the night is darker now
My lord, the night has grown darker
And the wind blows stronger
And the wind blows with greater force
Fails my heart, I know not how
My heart falters, I can't explain why
I can go no longer.
I am unable to continue.
Mark my footsteps, my good page
Take note of my footprints, loyal servant
Tread thou in them boldly
Step confidently in them
Thou shall find the winter's rage
You will encounter the winter's fury
Freeze thy blood less coldly.
But it will not freeze your blood as severely.
In his master's steps he trod
He followed in his master's footsteps
Where the snow lay dinted
Where the snow was marked by footprints
Heat was in the very sod
Warmth was present in the earth itself
Which the Saint had printed
Footprints left by the Saint
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Hence, fellow Christians, be certain
Wealth or rank possessing
Whether you possess wealth or social status
Ye who now will bless the poor
Those who now bestow blessings upon the impoverished
Shall yourselves find blessing
Shall also discover blessings for yourselves
Lyrics © DISK EYES MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind