The Old Shepherd’s Carol

Description

The Old Shepherd’s Carol (1996)

SATB chorus, unaccompanied
3′ duration
Text: William Blake, from Poetical Sketches, 1787. More about Blake at Artsy.net.
Premiere—1998, by Minneapolis Community and Technical College Choir, Elizabeth Pauly conductor, Mpls., MN.Published by Yelton Rhodes Music: www.yrmusic.com

Text

When silver snow decks Sylvio’s clothes
And jewel hangs at shepherd’s nose,
We can abide life’s pelting storm
That makes our limbs quake,

Refrain:
If our hearts be warm,
If our hearts be warm,
We can abide life’s pelting storm,
If our hearts be warm.

Whilst Virtue is our walking staff
And Truth a lantern to our path,
We can abide life’s pelting storm
That makes our limbs quake,

Refrain

Blow, boist’rous wind, stern winter frown,
Innocence is a winter’s gown;
So clad we’ll abide life’s pelting storm
That makes our limbs quake,

Refrain

William Blake