Digging Through the Notes: Twelve Days of Christmas

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 12 - Let all that are to mirth inclined (or All you who are to mirth inclined)

All you that are to mirth inclin'd,
Consider well, and bear in mind
What our good God for us hath done,
In sending his beloved son.

This is the opening verse of an old carol that is commonly found with the title The Sinner's Redemption, and the subtitle The Nativity of our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ, With His Life on Earth, and Precious Death on the Cross.

This very old carol was widely reproduced in the 17th and 18th centuries on Broadsides - single sheets of paper that contained between one and four Christmas songs - although none of the antiquaries who included it in their collections had any firm idea about its age except to say that it was "old." William Hone mentions it in his 1823 list, Christmas Carols Now Annually Printed, and he writes, "I find that nearly all the broadside printers include it in their yearly sheets." In 1861, Joshua Sylvester wrote "This rude old carol is still an especial favorite with the peasantry." A few years later (in 1864), William Henry Husk wrote that "This is one of the most popular of carols, ..." and that "It is annually reprinted by the broadside printers, and is included in most of the existing collections of carols." And finally, William Harrison, writing from the Isle of Man in 1873, found "this rude old carol" in an old manuscript copy from the middle 1700s. Like Sylvester, Harrison observed that the song "was a favourite one in country districts." (A big thank you to the folks at The Hymns and Carols of Christmas for all this information!)

Much more background on All you who are to mirth inclined can be found at The Hymns and Carols of Christmas.

This haunting carol has been printed with up to 22 verses. Some performers sing its chorus after every verse, others sing the chorus after every other verse, and still others remove it all together. For each performance presented below, we've listed the verses that are sung.

A calming and mesmerizing way to end this year's Twelve Days . . . and then some . . . of Christmas.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Let all that are to mirth inclin'd

1. Let all that are to mirth inclin'd,
Consider well, and bear in mind,
What our good God for us has done,
In sending his beloved Son.

Chorus
For to redeem our souls from thrall,
Christ is the Saviour of us all.

2. Let all your songs and praises be
Unto His Heavenly Majesty;
And evermore; amongst our mirth
Remember Christ our Saviour's birth. Chorus

3. The twenty-fifty day of December
We have good cause for to remember:
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was the bless'd Messiah born. Chorus

4. The night before that happy tide
The spotless virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find some lodging in the town. Chorus

5. But mark how all things came to pass!
The inn and lodgings filled was,
That they could find no room at all
But in a silly ox's stall. Chorus

6. That night the Virgin Mary mild
Was safe delivered of a child
According unto Heav'n's decree
Man's sweet salvation for to be. Chorus

7. Near Bethlehem some Shepherds keep
Their flocks and herds of feeding sheep;
To whom God's Angel did appear,
Which put the shepherds in great fear. Chorus

8. Prepare and go, the Angel said,
'To Bethlehem, be not afraid;
There shall you find this blessed morn,
The princely babe, sweet Jesus born.' Chorus

9. With thankful heart and joyful mind
The Shepherds went this babe to find,
And as the Heav'nly Angels told,
They did our Saviour Christ behold. Chorus

10. Within a manger he was laid;
The Virgin Mary by him staid,
Attending on the Lord of life,
Being both mother, maid, and wife. Chorus

11. Three Eastern Wise Men from afar,
Directed by a glorious star;
Came boldly on, and made no stay
Until they came where Jesus lay. Chorus

12. And being come unto the place,
Whereas the blessed Messiah was;
They humbly laid before His feet,
Their gifts of gold and odours sweet. Chorus

13. See how the Lord of Heaven and earth
Shew'd himself lowly in his birth;
A sweet example for mankind,
To learn to bear an humble mind. Chorus

14. No costly robes nor rich attire,
Did Jesus Christ our Lord desire;
No music nor sweet harmony,
Till glorious music from on high Chorus

15. Did in melodious manner sing,
Praises unto our heav'nly King;
All honour, glory, might, and pow'r
Be unto Christ our Saviour! Chorus

16. If quires of Angels did rejoice,
Well may mankind with heart and voice
Sing praises to the God of Heav'n,
That unto us his Son has given. Chorus