New: Cradle Song

[tomkeays]

http://ianrobb.com/FeastsandSpirits/FeastsandSpiritsnotes.htm

Watts published this hymn in 1706, with 14 stanzas in serious need of pruning (one, for instance, is downright anti-Semitic). Most modern renditions stick to the quite tender lines focusing on the child. Ann learned her version from the singing of Maddy Prior; the melody comes from the old shape note hymn, “Restoration” (312b in The Sacred Harp – “Come Thou Fount of every blessing …”).

The Cradle Carol (Watts’s Cradle Hymn) w. Isaac Watts

Hush my dear, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed. Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head.

Sleep my babe; thy food and raiment, House and home, thy friends provide; All without thy care and payment, All thy wants are well supplied.

How much better thou art attended Than the Son of God could be When from heaven he descended And became a child like thee.

Soft and easy is thy cradle; Coarse and hard the Saviour lay, When his birthplace was a stable And his softest bed was hay.

Lo, he slumbers in a manger, Where the horned oxen fed; Peace, my darling, here's no danger, Here's no ox a-near thy bed.

Hush my dear, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed. Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head.

https://mainlynorfolk.info/steeleye.span/songs/cradlesong.html

[tomkeays]

Tune: http://www.sacredharpbremen.org/lieder/300-bis-399/312b-restoration-first

X:1
T: Restoration
V:4 clef=bass 
%%staves 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
U: H = fermata
M: 4/4
L: 1/4
K: Amin
%
[V:1] A  A  c    d      | e  e      c/B/   A  | d   d  e    c/d/   | e  d  e2   |
[V:2] c  c  c    B/A/   | G  G      A/B/   c  | B   B  c    G/A/   | E  G  A2   |
[V:3] A  A  A    G/A/   | c  c      A/G/   E  | G   G  A    G/A/   | c  d  e2   |
[V:4] A, A, A,   G,/E,/ | C, C,     C,/D,/ E, | G,  G, A,   G,/E,/ | C, G, E,2  |
%
[V:1] A  G  c/d/ e      | g  e/d/   c      d  | e>  c  A/B/ c      | B  B  A2   |]
[V:2] c  B  A    G      | B  c/B/   A      G  | c>  c  c    G      | E  G  A2   |]
[V:3] e  g  e/d/ c      | d  e/d/   c      G  | A>  c  A/G/ E      | G  G  A2   |]
[V:4] A, G, A,   C      | G, A,/G,/ E,     G, | A,> G, E,   C,/D,/ | G, G, A,,2 |]

[tomkeays]

435. A Cradle Hymn Isaac Watts. 1674–1748 Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

HUSH! my dear, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed! Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head.

Sleep, my babe; thy food and raiment, House and home, thy friends provide; All without thy care or payment: All thy wants are well supplied.

How much better thou'rt attended Than the Son of God could be, When from heaven He descended And became a child like thee!

Soft and easy is thy cradle: Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay, When His birthplace was a stable And His softest bed was hay.

Blessèd babe! what glorious features— Spotless fair, divinely bright! Must He dwell with brutal creatures? How could angels bear the sight?

Was there nothing but a manger Cursèd sinners could afford To receive the heavenly stranger? Did they thus affront their Lord?

Soft, my child: I did not chide thee, Though my song might sound too hard; 'Tis thy mother sits beside thee, And her arms shall be thy guard.

Yet to read the shameful story How the Jews abused their King, How they served the Lord of Glory, Makes me angry while I sing.

See the kinder shepherds round Him, Telling wonders from the sky! Where they sought Him, there they found Him, With His Virgin mother by.

See the lovely babe a-dressing; Lovely infant, how He smiled! When He wept, the mother's blessing Soothed and hush'd the holy child.

Lo, He slumbers in His manger, Where the hornèd oxen fed: Peace, my darling; here 's no danger, Here 's no ox anear thy bed.

'Twas to save thee, child, from dying, Save my dear from burning flame, Bitter groans and endless crying, That thy blest Redeemer came.

May'st thou live to know and fear Him, Trust and love Him all thy days; Then go dwell for ever near Him, See His face, and sing His praise!

http://www.bartleby.com/101/435.html