[From Manx Soc vol XXI]

CHRISTMAS CAROL.

TAKEN down from the recitation of boys in the south of the island, and as it differs in some instances from the Carol given at page 102 in the first series of Mona Miscellany, it is thought worthy of preservation in this series.

WE wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year;
With your pockets full of money and your cellar full of beer,
For it’s in the Christmas times we travel far and near,
So we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

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 his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

You go to your cow-house, your mind is on your cows
Your mind is not on Jesus Christ, who gave the several vows,
Who gave the several vows, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

You go to your haggard, your mind is on your corn;
Your mind is not on Jesus Christ who wore the crown of thorn,
Who wore the crown of thorn, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

You go to the meadow, your mind is on your hay;
Your mind is not on Jesus Christ, who was born on Christmas day,
Who was born on Christmas day, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

You go into your chamber, your mind is on your sleep
Your mind is not on Jesus Christ, who for your soul did weep,
Who for your soul did weep, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

You go into your parlour, your mind is on your dinner;
Your mind is not on Jesus Christ, who suffered for a sinner,
Who suffered for a sinner, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

You go to get married, your mind is on your maid;
Your mind is not on Jesus Christ, who in the manger laid,
Who in the manger laid, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

We are not come to your house to beg nor to borrow;
For we are come to your house to drive away your sorrow,
To drive away your sorrow, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

For we’re not like dirty beggars, who beg from door to door
We are your neighbour’s children, that have been here before,
That have been here before, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

God bless the master of the house, and to the mistress too,
And all the little children, around the table too
Around the table too, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

In comes the mistress of the house, a star upon her breast;
Awake her soul to happiness, God send her soul to rest,
God send her soul to rest, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.

We’ve got a little leathern bag that’s worn very thin;
And if you choose to give us a Christmas box, do line it well within,
Do line it well within, and his blessed may you be,
For you’ll never do for Jesus Christ what he has done for we.
And the Lord send you a happy New Year.