I sang this carol with my choir in college and fell in love with it's originality.
Imagine a lamplighter turning off the lamps in the early morning hours of London.
And like all good Christmas carols it praises the Christ.
PAST THREE O'CLOCK
Old English Carole
(George Ratcliff Woodward)
past three o'clock,
on a cold frosty morning,
past three o'clock,
good morrow masters all.
born is a baby gentle as may be,
son of the Eternal Father supernal.
seraph choir singeth, angel bell ringeth,
hark how they rhyme it, time it and chime it!
mid earth rejoices hearing such voices.
ne'ertofore so well carolling nowell!
hinds o'er the pearly dewy lawn early
seek the high stranger laid in the manager.
cheese from the dairy bring they for Mary,
and, not for money, butter and honey.
light out of star-land leadeth from far
land princes, to meet him, worship and greet him.
myrrh from full coffer, incense they offer;
nor is the golden nugget withholden.
thus they: i pray you, up sirs, nor stay you
till ye confess him likewise and bless him.
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