On Yesternight I Saw A Sight
Composer(s): Rt. Rev. C.W. Stubbs; T.T. Noble



On yester night I saw a sight
A star as bright as day
And all along, I heard a song
Lullay, by by, lullay, lullay, lullay

A lovely lady sat and sang
And to her child she spake
My Son, my Brother, Father dear
It makes my heart to ache
To sweet Thee there, so cold and bare
A King upon this hay
But hush Thy wail, I will not fail
To sing by by, lullay, lullay, to sing by by, lullay, lullay
To sing by by lullay, lullay,
lullay, lullay, lullay, lullay, lullay

The Child then spake whilst she did sing
And to the maiden said
"Right sure I am a mighty King
Though in a crib My bed
For angels bright
Down to Me light
Thou canst not say Me nay
Then why so sad?
Thou mayest be glad
To sing by by, lullay"

"Now, sweetest Lord, since Thou art King
Why liest Thou in a stall?
Why didst Thou not Thy cradle bring
To some great royal hall?
Methinks 'tis right
That king or knight
Should lie in good array
And them among
It were no wrong
To sing by by, lullay"

"My Mother Mary, thine I be
Though I be laid in stall
Both lords and dukes shall worship Me
And so shall monarchs all
Ye shall well see
That princes three
Shall come on the twelfth day
Then let Me rest
Upon thy breast
And sing by by, lullay"

"Now tel1 me, sweetest Lord, I pray
Thou art my love and dear
How shall I nurse Thee to Thy mind
And make Thee glad of cheer?
For all Thy will
I would fulfil
I need no more to say
And for all this
I will Thee kiss
And sing by by, lullay"

"My Mother dear, when time it be
Then take Me up aloft
And set Me up upon thy knee
And handle Me full soft
And in thy arm
Thou wilt Me warm
And keep Me night and day
And if I weep
And may not sleep
Thou sing by by, lullay"

"Now, sweetest Lord, since it is so
That Thou art most of might
I pray Thee grant a boon to me
If it be meet and right
That child or man
That will or can
Be merry on this day
To bliss them bring
And I shall sing
Lullay, by by, lullay"