for mixed chorus and harp (or piano)
Poem: Eleanor Farjeon
Duration: 3 min 14 sec
Published by William Thorpe.
The Shepherd and the King is included in Come Christmas, a sequence of twelve carols to poems of Eleanor Farjeon.
This carol won the Welcome Christmas! Contest, hosted by VocalEssence and the American Composers Forum. VocalEssence included The Shepherd and the King on their CD Behold This Heavenly Night.
Here is their recording.
The Shepherd and the King,
The Angel and the Ass,
They heard Sweet Mary sing,
When her joy was come to pass;
They heard Sweet Mary sing
To the Baby on her knee.
Sing again Sweet Mary,
And we will sing with thee!
Earth, bear a berry!
Heaven, bear a light!
Man, make you merry
On Christmas Night.
The Oxen in the stall,
The Sheep upon the hill,
They are waking all
To hear Sweet Mary still.
The Baby is a Child,
And the Child is running free.
Sing again Sweet Mary,
And we will sing with thee!
Earth, bear a berry!
Heaven, bear a light!
Man, make you merry
On Christmas Night.
The People in the land,
So many million strong,
All silently do stand
To hear Sweet Mary’s song.
The Child He is a man,
And the man hangs on a tree.
Sing again Sweet Mary,
And we will sing with thee!
Earth, bear a berry!
Heaven, bear a light!
Man, make you merry
On Christmas Night.
The Stars that are so old,
The Grass that is so young,
They listen in the cold
To hear Sweet Mary’s Tongue.
The Man’s the Son of God,
And in heaven walketh He.
Sing again Sweet Mary,
And we will sing with thee!
Earth, bear a berry!
Heaven, bear a light!
Man, make you merry
On Christmas Night.