Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings
Christmas 2012
December 7
Es Ist Ein' Ros' (Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming)
Performed by Greg Barlow on banjo, vocals, and egg shaker
Words: 15th century German carol; trans. Theodore Baker, 1894.
Music: ES IST EIN' ROS', 16th century German
This rendition of "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" is a different style than the one posted a few days ago. This is one of the songs I like to record every year, and I thought I'd try something new this time.
Lyrics
English
Lo, how a rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung,
From Jesse's lineage coming,
By faithful prophets sung.
It came, a floweret bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
The rose I have in mind,
With Mary we behold it,
The virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright
She bore for us a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
German
Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen,
Aus einer Wurzel zart,
Wie uns die Alten sungen,
Von Jesse kam die Art,
Und hat ein Blümlein bracht
Mitten im kalten Winter
Wohl zu der halben Nacht.
Das Röslein, das ich meine,
Davon Jesaias sagt,
Ist Maria die Reine uns
Das Blümlein bracht.
Aus Gottes ew'gen Rat hat
Sie ein Kind geboren
Und blieb ein' reine Magd.
Sources and more information
- Presbyterian Hymnal, 1990.
- Oxford Book of Carols, 1964.
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas - English
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas - German