Verse 1.
Long ago, through ice and snow,
Three noble brothers trod.

They moved not fast through icy blast,
and slipped on every clod.

The cold wind cried “Their hope has died!”
And through their souls did blow.

When their hope had died the youngest spied,
a warm and cheerful glow.

He set his face and pressed his pace,
and ere long did he see.

Warm twinklings twain, one in a pane,
and one atop a tree.

He approached a door he knew for sure,
was not upon his map.

Kissed by the glow ‘neath mistletoe,
he gave a hearty rap.

The door swung wide. The man inside,
Fair shouted “Welcome, guest!”

“Please take your ease, and warm your knees,
and by my fire be blessed.”

He brought them meat and cider sweet,
and tea and buttered bread.

He filled each plate, then stood up straight,
And said. And said.

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Savior,
Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan’s power,
Which long had gone astray.

Chorus:
O tidings of comfort and joy!
Comfort and joy!
O tidings of comfort and joy!

Verse 2.
They warmed their bones and hummed the tones,
Their kind host sweetly sang.

They ate and drank and God did thank,
Until sweet Matins rang.

To humble bed each one was lead,
Up in a cozy loft.

On nests of hay each brother lay,
Beneath spun sheep’s wool soft.

All through the night their dreams were light,
And joyous scenes of fun.

Good saints at rest and brightly dressed,
Played ‘neath a Winter sun.

At Prime they rose and donned the clothes,
Their host had picked for each.

Then broke their fast on warm repast,
Of pies: pear, plum and, peach.

And then outside the middle spied,
Their host beneath the tree.

Knee-deep in snow he cried “What ho!”
Come out and work by me!”

So brightest gems they hung from stems,
and bundled wreaths to hang.

To speed their craft o’er icy draft,
They sang. They sang.

In Bethlehem, in Jury,
This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger,
Upon this blessed morn;
Of which His mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn.

Chorus.

From God our heavenly Father,
The blessed angel came.
And unto certain shepherds,
Brought glad tidings of the same,
In Bethlehem was born a king,
The Son of God by name.

Chorus.

Verse 3.
The last jewel perched, the four men lurched,
‘Gainst Winter’s windy howl.

Their breath did freeze and from the trees,
They heard a throaty growl.

Indoors they fled, hearts full of dread,
And fear of snow and beast.

Then someone said “Why should we dread?”
“Instead let’s have a feast!”

They soldiered up and raised a cup,
To battle quite delicious

With gravy spoons, these brave dragoons,
soon fortified their dishes.

The battle raged with cheese well-aged,
and scones and clotted cream.

But as they dined the fell wind whined,
Then rose into a scream.

(What was that? I don’t know. It was right outside the door.)

And soon enough, despite their bluff,
The brothers shook and trembled.

For right outside, the eldest spied,
An army all assembled.

There fiends did drool and goblins cruel,
beat hard upon the door.

But with compose, the old man rose,
Up like a lion to roar.

Fear not, then said the Angel,
Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior,
Of virtue, power, and might;
So frequently to vanquish all,
The friends of Satan quite;

Chorus

The shepherds at those tidings,
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a feeding,
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessed babe to find.

Chorus.

Verse 4.
Their hearts now steeled, the brothers wheeled,
Straight to the blazing Yule.

They filled their hand with burning brands,
To fend freak, fiend, and ghoul.

Outside they burst to face the worst,
The demons had to throw.

With breath that reeked, each goblin shrieked,
And fled across the snow.

The four men chased, but soon outpaced,
They searched among the brush.

A rustling felt, the old man knelt,
And signaled all to hush.

The torches blazed, the brothers raised,
Them high for blows and knocks.

Brush pushed aside, the old man spied,
A shivering baby ox?

With gentle laugh, they brought the calf,
Back to the old man’s cottage.

They wrapped him like a little tyke,
And fed him hay and pottage.

The oxling mooed for beets well-stewed,
While the brothers scratched his head.

The old man fed the fire bright red,
And said. And said.

But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereas this infant lay
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray:

Chorus.

With sudden joy and gladness
The shepherds were beguiled,
To see the Babe of Israel,
Before His mother mild,
O then with joy and cheerfulness
Rejoice, each mother's child.

Chorus.

Verse 5.
The storm increased, but man and beast,
Stayed cozy in their home.

They ate good meat and warmed their feet,
And read the Sacred Tome.

They taught tricks, now, to their young cow,
And pet his hide quite hairy.

And all along they sang their song,
And wished eachother merry.

Twelve days in all, the screaming squall,
Laid snowdrifts all around.

The road o’ertopped, all travel stopped,
Wherever it was bound.

Epiphany day not far away,
The sun shone in the sky.

The roads now good, the brothers stood,
To say their long goodbye.

But hearts were pained and silence reigned.
No words seemed worthy then,

To tell the good and brotherhood,
The five shared in that den.

But silence broke. The old man spoke,
With joy but with a pang.

There by the door, he smiled once more,
And sang. And sang.

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood,
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas,
All others doth efface.

(The brothers replied.)

God bless the ruler of this house,
And send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas
May live to see again;
Among your friends and kindred
That live both far and near.

That God send you a happy new year,
Happy new year,
And God send you a happy new year.

Epilogue.
And so the three noble brothers continued their merry journey, and everywhere they visited, to anyone who would listen, they sang the song they learned from their kind host, which we sing to this very day. The end. Merry Christmas, everybody!