mgpcpastor's blog

In The Bleak Mid-Winter is a song that I only came to know a couple of years ago, but the artistry of Christina Rosetti’s poetry and Gustav Holst’s tune Cranham are both so winsome.
Even with Mount Gambier’s fickle weather, our Christmases don’t really qualify as being mid-winter like, but this song evokes a feeling even those of us singing carols in bright sunlight appreciate.
Here’s a post about the song from a couple of years ago.
Lots of others seem to like the song as well, I have nine versions in my itunes library.
The lyrics:
1
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
2
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God incarnate, Jesus Christ.
3
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
4
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Here’s The Priest’s performance of the song from their Christmas album Noël.