As Joseph was a-walking
Reading edition
As Joseph was a-walking, He heard an angel sing, “This shall be the birth-night Of Christ our heavenly king. “His birth-bed shall be neither In housen nor in hall, Nor in the place of paradise, But in the oxen’s stall. “He neither shall be rockèd In silver nor in gold, But in the wooden manger That lieth in the mould. “He neither shall be washen With white wine nor with red, But with the fair spring water That on you shall be shed. “He neither shall be clothèd In purple nor in pall, But in the fair white linen That usen babies all.” As Joseph was a-walking, Thus did the angels sing, And Mary’s son at midnight Was born to be our King.
