Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine
A setting of the traditional German carol for SATB and organ. A graceful, easy anthem that your choir will love. The lyrics for this carol were created anonymously in the fourteenth or fifteenth century in Germany and titled Joseph, lieber, Joseph mein. By the late fifteenth century, they were linked with a very lovely anonymous tune which probably was composed in fourteenth-century Germany. One of its earliest appearances was in a mystery play.
"Joseph dearest, Joseph mine,
Help me rock the Child divine;
God reward thee and all that's thine
In paradise," so prays the mother Mary.
"Gladly, dear one, lady mine,
I will rock this child of thine;
Heav'nly light on us shall shine
In paradise, as prays the mother Mary."
Sweet and lovely litle one,
Princely, beauteous God's own Son,
without thee were we all undone:
Our love is won by thine, O Son of Mary.
Heav'nly Child, thou Lord of all,
Meanly housed in ox's stall,
Free our souls in Satan's thrall:
On thee we call, thou blessed Son of Mary.