As joseph was a-walking
He heard an angel sing:
"This night shall be the birth time
Our gracious heavenly king;
He neither shall be born
In housen nor in hall,
Nor in the place of paradise

But in an ox's stall."
Allelujah!
"He neither shall be clothed
In purple nor in pall;
But all in fair white linen
As wear sweet babies all

He neither shall be rocked
In silver nor in gold;
But in a wooden cradle
That rocks upon the mould.
"He neither shall be christen's
In white wine nor in red

But with the fair spring water
With which we were christ'ned."
As joseph was a-walking
He heard an angel sing:
"This night shall be the birth time
Our gracious heavenly king;
Allelujah!