Long, long ago
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| Long, long ago, Oh! so long ago Christ was born in Bethlehem to heal the world's woe. His mother in the stable watched him where he lay and knew for all his frailty he was the world's stay. | |
| Long, long ago, Oh! so long ago Christ was born in Bethlehem. While he lay there sleeping in the quiet night she listened to his breathing and oh! her heart was light. | |
| Long, long ago, Oh! so long ago Christ was born to heal the world's woe. She tended him and nursed him, giving him her breast, and knew that it was God's son in her crook'd arm at rest. | |
| Long, long ago, Oh! so long ago Christ was born in Bethlehem to heal the world's woe. Shepherds at the sheepfolds knew him for their King; and gold and myrrh and frankincense three wise men did bring. | |
| Long, long ago, Oh! so long ago Christ was born to heal the world's woe. For he should be the Saviour, making wars to cease, who gives joy to all men, and brings to them peace. | |
| Written by John Buxton in 1940 while a prisoner of war
at Oflag VII C at Laufen Castle in Bavaria. Published in a
small collection titled Such Liberty in 1944. Music
composed in 1950 by Herbert Howells for the Lady Margaret
Singers of Cambridge.
Performed by the Giltspur Singers (conductor: Christopher
Maxim) at their Christmas Concert at St Clement Danes, Strand,
London on 13th December 2011. |