I think the Wexford Carol is one of the  most beautiful carols in existence.  It recounts the story of Jesus’ birth in careful detail.  Even the melody sounds as if it is telling a story, and although its beauty is obvious, I believe the principal voice singing the words can make or break it. Which is why I love this rendition by Alison Krauss, and Yo-Yo Ma.

Good people all, this Christmas time,

Consider well and bear in mind

What our good God for us has done

In sending his beloved son

With Mary holy we should pray,

To God with love this Christmas Day

In Bethlehem upon that morn,

There was a blessed Messiah born

The night before that happy tide

The noble Virgin and her guide

Were long time seeking up and down

To find a lodging in the town

But mark right well what came to pass

From every door repelled, alas

As was foretold, their refuge all

Was but a humble ox’s stall

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep

Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep

To whom God’s angel did appear

Which put the shepherds in great fear

Arise and go, the angels said

To Bethlehem, be not afraid

For there you’ll find, this happy morn

A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born

With thankful heart and joyful mind

The shepherds went the babe to find

And as God’s angel had foretold

They did our Saviour Christ behold

Within a manger he was laid

And by his side a virgin maid

Attending on the Lord of Life

Who came on earth to end all strife

There were three wise men from afar

Directed by a glorious star

And on they wandered night and day

Until they came where Jesus lay

And when they came unto that place

Where our beloved Messiah lay

They humbly cast them at his feet

With gifts of gold and incense sweet

The Wexford Carol is an Irish Christmas carol originating from the county called Wexford, speciffically Enniscorthy. “The Wexford Carol,” sometimes known by its first verse, “Good people all this Christmas time,” is one of the oldest Christmas carols in the European tradition. The song achieved a renewed popularity due to the work of William Grattan Flood (1859 – 1928), who was organist and musical director at St. Aidan’s Cathedral in Wexford. He transcribed the carol from a local singer, and had it published in the Oxford Book of Carols, putting Wexford into most carol books around the world.”