Good King Wenceslas
St. Michael's Singers & The Coventry Singers Lyrics
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On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shown the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gathering winter fuel.
Hither, page, and stand by me.
If thou know 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 the 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.
Ark my footsteps my good page,
Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.
In his master's step he trod,
Where the snow lay dented.
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 the kindness and generosity of King Wenceslas I of Bohemia who, on the feast of Stephen (December 26th), sees a poor man gathering firewood in the snow. Despite the harsh weather, Wenceslas decides to bring food, wine, and firewood to the man's humble dwelling. He is accompanied by his page who initially doubts whether they should continue due to the worsening weather, but Wenceslas assures him that following in his footsteps will provide some relief from the cold. The final verse highlights the moral lesson of the story, emphasizing that those who bless the poor will in turn find blessings themselves.
The lyrics convey a message of compassion, highlighting the virtues of helping those in need and demonstrating kindness even in challenging circumstances. King Wenceslas serves as an example of a leader who goes beyond his duties to assist others, showing that acts of charity can bring blessings not only to the recipients but also to the givers.
Line by Line Meaning
Good King Wenceslas looked out
The noble King Wenceslas peered forth
On the feast of Stephen
During the celebration of Saint Stephen's Day
When the snow lay round about, Deep and crisp and even
As the snow covered the land, pure and untouched
Brightly shone the moon that night
The moon radiantly illuminated the dark sky
Though the frost was cruel
Despite the harshness of the cold
When a poor man came in sight, Gathering winter fuel
A destitute man appeared, gathering sticks for warmth
Hither, page, and stand by me
Come here, my loyal assistant, and stand beside me
If thou know it telling
Do you recognize him, can you provide information?
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?
Who is that humble villager over there? Where does he live and what is his life like?
Sire, he lives a good league hence
My lord, he resides a fair distance away
Underneath the mountain
Nestled beneath the towering peak
Right against the forest fence
Adjacent to the boundary of the forest
By Saint Agnes fountain
Near the sacred waters of Saint Agnes' fountain
Bring me flesh, and bring me wine
Fetch me meat and wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Gather pine logs and bring them here
Thou and I will see him dine
Together, we shall witness his meal
When we bear them thither
As we carry these provisions to him
Page and monarch, forth they went
Both the attendant and the king embarked
Through the rude wind's wild lament
Braving the harsh wailing of the fierce wind
And the bitter weather
And enduring the harsh conditions
Sire, the night is darker now
My lord, the night has grown even darker
And the wind blows stronger
And the wind blows with greater force
Fails my heart, I know not how
My heart fails me, I cannot explain why
I can go no longer
I can continue no further
Mark my footsteps, my good page
Follow my footsteps closely, my loyal assistant
Tread thou in them boldly
Step confidently in my tracks
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
You shall discover that the fury of winter
Freeze thy blood less coldly
Will freeze your blood with less severity
In his master's step he trod
He walked in the footsteps of his superior
Where the snow lay dented
Where the snow had been marked
Heat was in the very sod
There was warmth within the ground itself
Which the saint had printed
Left by the holy saint's presence
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Thus, men of faith, be certain
Wealth or rank possessing
Whether you possess wealth or high status
Ye who now will bless the poor
Those who now offer blessings to the impoverished
Shall yourselves find blessing
Shall themselves discover blessings
Lyrics © Starshine Music, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TONY ALLEN, DONIE CASSIDY, MICK FOSTER, JOHN MASON NEALE, UNKNOWN COMPOSER AUTHOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind