This Little Babe - for Christmas 06

Those familiar with "A Ceremony of Carols" by Benjamin Britten will recognize this edited text. I've long wanted to make slight adjustments to the text and write a singable melody - the melody (which I will post soon) has an old American hymn feel to it, arranged in such a way as to combine elements that suggest a lullaby with a military drum rhythm. If the combination sounds ironically mismatched, that's the point of the text.

This Little Babe
Robert Southwell (1561-1595) adapted by Rick Lindholtz
Melody © 2006 Rick Lindholtz

This little babe, so few days old
Has come to empty Satan’s fold.
All hell will at his presence quake,
Though he himself for cold do shake;
Though he is weak and small of size,
The gates of hell he will surprise.
If you would find fullness of joy
Depart not from this heavenly boy.

With tears he fights and wins the field,
His naked breast stands for a shield;
His battering shot a baby’s cries,
His arrows made of weeping eyes,
His martial ensigns cold and need,
And feeble flesh his warrior's steed.
If you would find fullness of joy
Depart not from this heavenly boy.

His mighty throne is in a stall,
Protected by a broken wall;
A crib his trench, hay stalks his stakes,
Of shepherds he his muster makes;
And though he comes so weak and poor
He holds the key to Heaven’s door.
If you would find fullness of joy
Depart not from this heavenly boy.

This little babe, so few days old
Has come to empty Satan’s fold.
So give yourself to Christ, my soul,
This little babe will make you whole,
Within his crib is surest ward,
This little babe will be thy guard;
If you would find fullness of joy
Depart not from this heavenly boy.