Christ Child's Lullaby

This hymn was written by Father Ranald Rankin in about 1855 and is sung at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve on Barra, South Uist and Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. It was written in Scottish Gaelic and originally had 29 verses. There are now many other versions of it in Gaelic and English.

Christ Child's Lullaby

My love my pride my treasure oh
My wonder new and pleasure oh
My son, my beauty ever you
Who am I to bear you here?

Alleluia x4

The cause of talk and tale am I
The cause of greatest fame am I
The cause of proudest care on high
To have for mine the king of all

And though you are the King of all
They sent you to a manger stall
Then at your feet they all should fall
And glorify my child the King

Alleluia x4

There shone a star above three kings
To guide them to the King of Kings
They held you in their humble arms
And knelt before you until dawn

They gave you myrrh, they gave you gold
Frankincense and gifts untold
They travelled far these gifts to bring
And kneel before their newborn King

Alleluia x4

Hear a recording of this song (arranged by Pauline Down)

Tàladh Chriosta (Scottish Gaelic version)

Mo ghaol, mo ghràdh is m'eudail thu
M'iunntas ùr is m'èibhneas thu
Mo mhacan àluinn, ceutach thu
Chan fhiù mi fhèin bhi 'd dhàil

Alelùia x4

Ge mòr an t-adhbhar clìu dhomh e
's mòr an t-adhbhar cùraim e
'S mòr an t-adhbhar ùmhlachd e
Rìgh nan Dùl bhith am làimh

Ged as Rìgh na Glòrach Thu
Dhiùlt iad an taigh-òsda dhut
Ach chualas ainglean sòlasach
Toirt glòir don Tì as àird

Alelùia x4

Dh'fhoillsich realta dha na Rìghrean
Lean iad i mar iùil gu dìleas
Fhuair iad ann am achlais fhin Thu
Is rinn iad ùmhlachd dhut gu làr

Thairg iad òr dhut, mirr is tùis
Thug iad adhradh dhut is cliù
B'e tuars an àigh don triùir
Thàinig a shealltainn mo rùin

Alelùia x4

Links

Recordings of this song
http://www.gwynethwalker.com/thechris.html (English)


Other versions of this song
http://musicanet.org/robokopp/eire/mylovemy.htm
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.CFM?threadID=7267

Sheet music for this song
http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab1/ccl1.html

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