What Child is This?

“What Child is This?” is a Christmas carol set to the tune of Greensleeves.  The lyrics were written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865.  The song is about the birth of Christ.

Most British hymn writers in the 19th C. were clergymen.  William C. Dix was born in Bristol, England in 1837. He was educated at the Bristol Grammar School and trained in the business world.  He was the manager of a marine insurance company in Glasgow, Scotland at the time of creating this hymn. While recovering from a critical illness he wrote several hymns.  The lyrics of the carol are taken from a poem which Dix wrote called “The Manger Throne’.

Greensleeves is a traditional English folk song.  It is a love ballad, believed to have been written by King Henry VIII for his lover and future queen Anne Boleyn.  Some say the Italian style of composition present in Greensleeves reached England well after Henry VIII’s death, and so this folk tune is more likely to be from the Elizabethan era.

Even though “What Child Is This?” is a British carol, it has become more popular in North America. Here are the lyrics found in the Baptist Hymnal.

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.

       This, this is Christ the King,

       Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;

       Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,

       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.

       This, this is Christ the King,

       Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;

       Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,

       The Babe, the Son of Mary.

While playing this piece for the residents at St. Mike’s, it was great to see the smiles on their faces.  Even though it was a ‘rehearsal’ and not a ‘performance’ they were so delighted that we came to play the bells for them this Christmas time.  

Have a great day everyone.  Put a smile on someone’s face today.

# living life abundantly  # published author  # travelling tuesdays