There is a tale that may or may not be true that when King Henry VIII was first courting Anne Boleyn, he wrote new lyrics for a popular well known tune of the 1500s. As you read the lyrics, you can hear the voice of a middled aged married man trying to seduce a beautiful young woman. We all know that this came to a bad end with a divorce of wife number one and the beheading of wife number two. Still the beautiful love song is sung and played 500 years after.
Greensleeves, King Singers
In 1865, William Chatterton Dix wrote new lyrics to the same lovely melody in praise of the arrival of Christ first seen sleeping in his mother's lap and then predicts the sorrowful end with another death but a joyful resurection.
What Child Is This? Sung by Josh Groban (With a video from the movie "Nativity"). There are more than eleven pages of this carol on You Tube. This was my favorite.
What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
