Joseph’s lullaby
03:00 duration|Composed in 2023|Difficulty: Moderately easy
Joseph’s lullaby is a gentle Christmas song that presents the voice of Joseph as he urges the baby Jesus to sleep in the manger. I’ve always been struck that Joseph does not get much attention himself in Christmas music and so I set out to craft a Christmas song from his point of view. Not being able to find a suitable poem on this theme, I wrote the words myself – something that I haven’t done since some of my earliest compositions about 35 years ago.
The music is scored for baritone solo supported by a TTBB close harmony group. The middle eight (actually a middle sixteen) is taken by the whole choir as they describe Joseph’s pleas for a happy and long life for his infant son, before returning to the opening music for the concluding verse.
This song was first performed by the gentlemen of Exultate Singers at the Carols by Candlelight concert in St James Priory, Bristol on 9 December 2023.
It is also available in scorings for baritone solo and SATB, and for unison voices (with optional second part) and piano.
Text
1.‘Sleep, little baby, do not cry,’
Joseph sings softly his lullaby.
Laid in the manger and wrapped in the hay,
lies his infant son, on his first day.
‘Your mother slumbers and you should too.
Rest now, my dear son, and know we love you.’
2.‘Six days of walking brought us here;
Nowhere to stay but this barn so drear.
Three local shepherds arrived to give praise
to my baby boy, my pride and joy.
Kings came with offerings from far away,
led by a star on this curious day.’
‘May you be blessed with happiness,
friendship and love; a life with no tears;
Radiant days of laughter and song
through all your long and peaceful years.’
3.‘What an amazing time it’s been:
So many wonderful sights we’ve seen!
Who would have thought it would turn out like this,
with angelic choirs and songs of bliss?
Someday you might be a father too:
Still, I will guard you my whole life through.
Sleep now, my dear son, and know I love you.’
