Past Three a Clock

*Christmas Carol.* Includes text of carol. Lyrics: Past three a clock, 1. Born is a Baby,Gentle as may be,Son of the eternalFather supernal. Refrain. Past three a clock,And a cold frosty morning,Past three a clock;Good morrow, masters all! 2. Seraph quire singeth,Angel bell ringeth;Hark how they rime it,Time it and chime it.Refrain. 3. Mid earth rejoicesHearing such voicese’ertofore so wellCarolling Nowell.Refrain. 4. Hinds o’er the pearly,Dewy lawn earlySeek the high StrangerLaid in the manger.Refrain. 5. Cheese from the dairyBring they for MaryAnd, not for money,Butter and honey.Refrain. 6. Light out of star-landLeadeth from far landPrinces, to meet him,Worship and greet him.Refrain. 7. Myrrh from full coffer,Incense they offer;Nor is the goldenNugget withholden.Refrain. 8. Thus they: I pray you,Up, sirs, nor stay youTill ye confess himLikewise and bless him.Refrain. The refrain and tune go back to renaissance times and both were possibly traditional ones used by the waits. Both are found in 17th century sources. The words of the refrain were used, for example, in the 1665 edition of John Playford’sDancing Master, the 3rd edition, and were quoted or used in literature and song many times in the 18th and 19th century. A volume ofOld English Dittiespublished in 1881 included a non-Christmas song with this refrain complemented by verses composed by John Oxenford. The Christmas verses given here and now most commonly associated with the refrain and the melody were written by George Ratcliff Woodward 1. Past Three a Clock _Score 3 pp. Parts 1pp._