The tune ‘Otford’, sung by the Ladies of Immanuel’s Ground, to four verses of ‘While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night’. Tune by Michael Beesly and words by Nahum Tate. Thomas Hardy’s favourite tune for this Carol. Performed during a concert at Wilmcote, Warwickshire, on 12th December 2010, and conducted by Sheila Macadam.
Lord! and shall Angels have their songs
And Men to times to rage
Oh! may one lose there woeful tongues (their?)
When they forget to praise
Apparently one verse of the carol: “Shepherds rejoice, lift up your eyes,”
showing how much can be lost or mis heard when ecording aural tradition!
Lord, and shall angels have their songs,
And men no tunes to raise?
O may we lose our useless tongues
When they forget to praise.
and
Is not the voice but power
Sound heart not sounding string
True zeal not outward show
That in God’s Ear doth ring.
From a music manuscript book