A Blessed Bird, As I You Say, That Died and Rose on Good Friday

A blessed bird, as I you say,

That died and rose on Good Friday

Words and Music: English Traditional, Before 1536

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), p. 186.

1. On Christes day, I understand,
An ear of wheat of a maid sprang,
Thirty winters on earth to stand,
To make us bread, all to His pay.¹
A blessed bird, as I you say,
That died and rose on Good Friday.

2. This corn was reapen and laid to ground,
Full sore beaten and faste bound
Unto a pillar with cordes round,
At His finger's ends the blood ran out that day.
A blessed bird, as I you say,
That died and rose on Good Friday.

3. This corn was reapen with great envy
Upon the Mount of Calvary;
Token He shoed on Shere-Thursday,
Maundy He gave to His disciples there.
A blessed bird, as I you say,
That died and rose on Good Friday.

4. Jesu upon His body the Cross bare;
Water and blood came from Him there;
This corn was scourged all in fere;
Till it waxed blood-red.
A blessed bird, as I you say,
That died and rose on Good Friday.

5. A crowne of thorns set on His head,
And He was done on the Rood,
And beaten till His body was bloody-red;
Thus they beat Jesu, our debt to pay.
A blessed bird, as I you say,
That died and rose on Good Friday.

Note:

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