Good King Wenceslas
The Ames Brothers;Sid Ramin and his Orchestra;Broc Peters Chorus 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" is a traditional Christmas carol that tells the story of King Wenceslas looking out on the feast of Stephen and seeing a poor man gathering winter fuel in the snow. Despite the cruel frost, the king sets out to help the man with his page. As they journey through the wind and snow, the page begins to falter, and the king encourages him to follow in his footsteps, reminding him that the warmth of the earth is present even in the coldest of winters. When they arrive at the house of the poor man, the king provides him with food and warmth, and reflects on the importance of aiding the less fortunate.
The song is based on the life of Saint Wenceslaus, a Bohemian prince who lived in the 10th century AD. He is remembered for his kindness and compassion towards the poor, and is regarded as a symbol of Czech national identity. The song was first published in 1853, with lyrics by J. M. Neale and music by Thomas Helmore. It has since become a popular Christmas carol and is a staple of holiday concerts and services.
Line by Line Meaning
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On Christmas day, King Wenceslas looked out of his castle
On the feast of Stephen
Specifically, It was on December 26th, which is known as the Christian feast day of Stephen
When the snow lay round about, Deep and crisp and even.
The snow was all around, deep and evenly spread
Brightly shone the moon that night, Though the frost was cruel
Despite the cold weather, the moon was shining brightly that night
When a poor man came in sight, Gathering winter fuel.
King Wenceslas saw a poor man who was gathering firewood
Hither, page, and stand by me. If thou know it telling:
The king asked his assistant to come closer and tell him if he knew the identity of the poor man
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?
The king asked about the identity, location and place of living of that poor peasant
Sire, he lives a good league hence, Underneath the mountain, Right against the forest fence By Saint Agnes fountain.
The assistant informed the king that the peasant lived at a considerable distance; beneath a mountain and by a fountain named after Saint Agnes
Bring me flesh, and bring me wine. Bring me pine logs hither. Thou and I will see him dine When we bear the thither.
The king asked his assistant to bring food, wine, and wood so that they can take it to the poor peasant and have dinner together
Page and monarch, forth they went, Forth they went together Through the rude wind's wild lament And the bitter weather
Both the king and his assistant went together, facing the harsh winter winds and snow
Sire, the night is darker now, And the wind blows stronger. Fails my heart, I know not how. I can go no longer.
The assistant was getting weary due to the dark and harsh winter night and suggested that they should turn back and leave
Ark my footsteps my good page, Tread thou in them boldly: Thou shalt find the winter's rage Freeze thy blood less coldly.
The king advised his assistant to follow his footsteps so that they can walk more easily and find the winter less difficult to confront
In his master's step he trod, Where the snow lay dented. Heat was in the very sod Which the saint had printed.
The assistant followed the footsteps of the king where the snow was dented, and warmth was still present where the saints had previously been
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, Wealth or rank possessing, Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing.
The song teaches us that whoever blesses the poor will be blessed by God, regardless of their social status or wealth.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: - DP, JOHN B. HANCOCK, RICH DIXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind