Adam Lay Ybounden

Adam lay ybounden

Words and Music: Traditional English
15th Century

Source: Edith Rickert, Ancient English Christmas Carols: 1400-1700 (London: Chatto & Windus, 1914), Page # 163

Adam lay ybounden,
 Bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter
 Thought he not too long.
And all was for an apple,
 An apple that he took,
As clerkës finden written
 In their book.
Nor had one apple taken been,
 The apple taken been,
Then had never Our Lady
A-been heaven's queen.
Blessed be the time
 That apple taken was.
Therefore we may singen
   Deo gratias!