Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) ‎#600

600. In the bleak mid-winter

1 In the bleak mid-winter, 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 mid-winter long ago.

2 Heaven cannot hold him, nor the earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign:
in the bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed
God, the Lord almighty, Jesus Christ.

3 Enough for him whom cherubim worship night and day —
a breastful of milk and a manger full of hay;
enough for him whom angels fall down before —
the wise men and the shepherds who adore!

4 What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb,
if I were a wise man I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him — give my heart.

Text Information

• First Line: In the bleak mid-winter
• Author: Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
• Meter: Irregular
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Topic: God's Church: Doxology, Glory to God

Tune Information

• Name: CRANHAM
• Composer: G. Holst (1874-1934)
• Meter: Irregular
• Key: F Major