(return to choral works)

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The Old Shepherd's Carol (1996) SATB or TTBB unaccompanied 2'

Text: William Blake, from Poetical Sketches, 1787

Premiere—1998, by Minneapolis Community and Technical College Choir, Elizabeth Pauly conductor, Mpls., MN.

Published by Yelton Rhodes Music: www.yrmusic.com

LISTEN

Text

When silver snow decks Sylvio's clothes
And jewel hangs at shepherd's nose,
We can abide life's pelting storm
That makes our limbs quake,

Refrain:
If our hearts be warm,
If our hearts be warm,
We can abide life's pelting storm,
If our hearts be warm.

Whilst Virtue is our walking staff
And Truth a lantern to our path,
We can abide life's pelting storm
That makes our limbs quake,

Refrain

Blow, boist'rous wind, stern winter frown,
Innocence is a winter's gown;
So clad we'll abide life's pelting storm
That makes our limbs quake,

Refrain