Carol Contemplation: Sussex Carol

On Christmas night all Christians sing

To hear the news the angels bring.

On Christmas night all Christians sing

To hear the news the angels bring.

News of great joy, news of great mirth,

News of our merciful King's birth.

Then why should men on earth be so sad,

Since our Redeemer made us glad?

Then why should men on earth be so sad,

Since our Redeemer made us glad,

When from our sin he set us free,

All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before His grace,

Then life and health come in its place.

When sin departs before His grace,

Then life and health come in its place.

Angels and men with joy may sing

All for to see the new-born King.

All out of darkness we have light,

Which made the angels sing this night.

All out of darkness we have light,

Which made the angels sing this night:

"Glory to God and peace to men,

Now and for evermore, Amen!"

This is not so well-known as other carols, but I love it much better. It is more popular in Britain, and every version I've ever heard has been by British artists. The very first time I heard this carol, I was with Roland and Emil, the two little boys I helped to home-school while I was in college. (That is a completely different story, but maybe someday I'll tell it.) During a break, they wanted to watch a Beatrix Potter video of The Tailor of Gloucester, which is one of my all-time favorite Christmas stories. The video began with a "real life" segment of a boy opening the door to a bunch of caroling children who sang this song in high, sweet voices. I sat up and listened and fell fathoms deep in love with this song, but of course, I thought I'd never be able to find it again, or learn its name or anything. I was bereft!

Lo and behold!  A year or so later, I received Celtic Christmas, a beautiful album by the British group Eden's Bridge. As I was listening through, all of a sudden, THIS SONG POPPED UP! I was SO excited, I think I probably cried. It was my first Christmas without my mom–everything was making me cry that year. I looked to find the name and was rather disappointed to see "Sussex Carol." How unimaginative. But nonetheless, it is a lovely song, lilting and twirling. You might be able to dance to it. Maybe. If you were wearing an Elizabeth Bennet gown and attending a Christmas ball. Which is probably NEVER going to happen to me.

When sin departs before His grace, then life and health come in its place. All out of darkness, we have light, which makes the angels sing this night. Then why should men on earth be so sad, since our redeemer made us glad?

Glory to God and peace to men, now and forevermore, Amen!