Sussex Carol

Sussex Carol is a Christmas carol popular in Britain.

Also known as "On Christmas Night True Christians Sing" and "On Christmas Night All Christians Sing", its words were first published by an Irish bishop, Luke Wadding, in a work called "Small Garland of Pious and Godly Songs". It is not clear whether Wadding wrote the song or was recording an earlier composition.

Both the text and the tune to which it is now sung were discovered and written down by Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams, who heard it being sung by a Harriet Verrall of Monk's Gate, Sussex (hence "Sussex Carol"). The tune to which it is sung today is the one Williams took down from Mrs Verrall and published in 1919.

The lyrics are as follows:

:"On Christmas night all Christians sing:"To hear the news the angels bring.:"On Christmas night all Christians sing:"To hear the news the angels bring.:"News of great joy, news of great mirth,:"News of our merciful King's birth.

:"Then why should men on earth be so sad,:"Since our Redeemer made us glad?:"Then why should men on earth be so sad,:"Since our Redeemer made us glad,:"When from our sin he set us free,:"All for to gain our liberty?

:"When sin departs before His grace,:"Then life and health come in its place.:"When sin departs before His grace,:"Then life and health come in its place.:"Angels and men with joy may sing:"All for to see the new-born King.

:"All out of darkness we have light,:"Which made the angels sing this night.:"All out of darkness we have light,:"Which made the angels sing this night::"Glory to God and peace to men,:"Now and for evermore, Amen!"

Cover Version

* 2007 - Chris Squire - 'Chris Squire's Swiss Choir'
* 2004 - Jon Schmidt - "Winter Serenade"
* 2006 - Maddy Prior - "An Evening of Carols and Capers"
* 1998 - The Choir of Winchester Cathedral
* 1989 - John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers - "Christmas with the Cambridge Singers"
* 1959, 1969, 1979, 1984, 1991, 1999 - The Choir of King's College, Cambridge