Song 22 in The Christmas Songbook
What Child Is This?
Also known as: Greensleeves
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Piano
For The Christmas Songbook (piano edition).
Slow (70% speed) (1:01)
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Normal speed (0:43)
The speed printed on the page.
Play-along (0:43)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.
Ukulele
For The Christmas Songbook (ukulele edition).
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Normal speed (0:43)
The speed printed on the page.
Play-along (0:43)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.
Guitar
For The Christmas Songbook (guitar edition).
Slow (70% speed) (1:01)
Learn with this one first.
Normal speed (0:43)
The speed printed on the page.
Play-along (0:43)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.
Kalimba
For The Christmas Songbook (kalimba edition).
Slow (70% speed) (1:01)
Learn with this one first.
Normal speed (0:43)
The speed printed on the page.
Recorder
For The Christmas Songbook (recorder edition).
Slow (70% speed) (1:01)
Learn with this one first.
Normal speed (0:43)
The speed printed on the page.
Play-along (0:43)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.
All the words
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 Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading:
Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
The Cross be borne, for me, for you:
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,
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.
Raise, raise, the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
About this song
- Music
- Traditional English melody GREENSLEEVES (16th century); arranged John Stainer (1840–1901)
- Words
- William Chatterton Dix (1837–1898)
- First published
- Words written c. 1865; first printed with GREENSLEEVES in Bramley & Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old (London: Novello, 1871)
- Copyright
- Public domain in the US, UK and EU. The arrangement and recordings belong to the book.