Somerset Carol (Traditional)

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• (Posted 2024-12-11)  CPDL #83066:       

Editor: Max Spicer (submitted 2024-12-11).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 48 kB   Copyright: CC BY SA

Edition notes: Arranged for a capella SATB. This is a transcription of the version published in The English Carol Book, 1923. I have substituted "pray" for "say", as Cecil J. Sharp himself did in his later edition.

• (Posted 2008-12-29)  CPDL #18432: 

Editor: Rod Mather (submitted 2008-12-29).   Score information: A4, 4 pages, 61 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: Arr. for SATB and organ by Rod Mather with alternative text available.

• (Posted 2004-01-13)  CPDL #06464:         

Editor: Glen Thompson (submitted 2004-01-13).   Score information: A4, 3 pages, 140 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: arranged for TBB a cappella by Glen Thompson. A robust arrangement of this popular, rollicking carol for men's voices. Not difficult.

General Information

Title: Somerset Carol (Come All You Worthy Gentlemen)
Composer: Anonymous (Traditional)

Number of voices: 3 or 4vv   Voicings: TBB or SATB
Genre: Sacred, Carol

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella or organ

First published: 1909
Description: A traditional English carol, collected c. 1900 by Cecil J. Sharp from Mr. Rapsey, of Bridgwater, Somerset.

External websites:

• Hymns and Carols of Christmas - Come All You Worthy Gentlemen
• The English Carol Book (second series)

Original text and translations

Note, some editions have "Unto the Lord did pray", instead of say. Cecil J. Sharp commented that "say" was a likely corruption of the original and used "pray" in his later edition of the carol and made minor changes to the punctuation.

English text

1.
Come all you worthy gentlemen
That may be standing by,
Christ our blessed savior
Was born on Christmas Day.
The blessed Virgin Mary
Unto the Lord did say
"O we wish you the comfort
and tidings of joy.
We wish you the tidings of joy."

2.
Christ our blessed Savior
Now in the manger lay.
He's lying in the manger,
While the oxen feed on hay.
The blessed Virgin Mary
Unto the Lord did say
"O we wish you the confort
and tidings of joy."

3.
God bless the master of this house
And long on may he reign.
May happy Christmases
He live to see again!
God bless our generation,
Who live both far and near,
And we wish them
a happy new year.
And we wish you a
happy new year.