This Christmas carol famously takes its melody from Greensleeves, a beloved Romanesca folk song in England from the late 1500s, telling the story of a young suitor spurned by the object of his affections “casting [him] off discourteously.” Although Greensleeves remains the more popular version in England, most Americans recognize the famous earworm melody as the Christmas carol, What Child Is This.
The carol lyrics were written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix, an insurance company manager who’d fallen ill and underwent a spiritual renewal and discovered his gift for hymnal writing. Alongside What Child Is This, Dix’s best known hymns were Alleluia! Sing to Jesus and As with Gladness Men of Old. What Child Is This tells the story of the adoration of the shepherds during the nativity. This carol debuted in print in 1871 in the anthology Christmas Carols Old And New, where it is believed it was first paired with the music of Greensleeves.
Lyrics
What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!