St Day Carol
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The St Day Carol or Sans Day Carol is one of the many Cornish Christmas carols recorded in the 19th century. This carol & melody were first transcribed from the singing of a villager in St Day in the parish of Gwennap, Cornwall.
The words of the carol are as follows
1. Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk,
And Mary bore Jesus, all wrapped up in silk:
Chorus:And Mary bore Jesus our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly.
Holly! Holly!
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!
2. Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died on the cross:
Chorus
3. Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died for us all:
Chorus
4. Now the holly bears a berry, as blood is it red,
Then trust we our Saviour, who rose from the dead:
[edit] Cover Versions
- 1996 - Sue White - Best of Cornish Folksongs, Vols I & II
- 2006 - Maddy Prior - An Evening of Carols and Capers