[From Manx Soc vol 16]

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

WE wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year,
A pocket full of money, and a cellar full of beer;
Long may you live and happy may you be,
With your best content and your fortune free.

God bless the master of this house, likewise the mistress too,
And all the little children that around the table go ;
For it is in the Christmas time we do travel far and near,
So we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Long may you live and happy may you be,
With your best content and your fortune free.

We have not come to your door to beg or to borrow,
But we have come to your door to drive away sorrow
For it is in the Christmas time we do travel far and near,
So we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year;
Long may you live and happy may you be,
With your best content and your fortune free.

When you go to your bedside your mind is on your sleep,
Your mind is not on Jesus Christ, who for our soul did weep
When you go to your hay-loft your mind is on your hay,
Your mind is not on Jesus Christ, born on a Christmas day.
Long may you live and happy may you be,
With your best content and your fortune free.

When you go to your stable your mind is on your horse,
Your mind is not on Jesus Christ, who suffered on the cross.
Who suffered on the cross, and happy may you be;
And the Lord send a joyful New Year.
Long may you live and happy may you be,
With your best content and your fortune free.

When you go to your liaggard your mind is on your corn,
Your mind is not on Jesus Christ who wore a crown of thorn,
Who wore a crown of thorns, and a blessing may it be;
We'll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we,
Long may you live and happy may you be,
With your best content and your fortune free,

We have a purse it has nothing within,
Please give us something to put therein.
Long may you live and blessed may you be,
With the best content, and your fortune free.

The foregoing was taken down by me from the recitation of Christinas carol-singers in December 1843.