Music of Christmas 23

Here’s another sentimental favorite of mine from German-speaking Europe.  The melody stems from a medieval Latin song, and the German lyrics seem to have been written by a monk in Salzburg, Austria:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M3P8PUTmRM

Joseph, lieber Joseph mein,
hilf mir wiegen mein Kindlein.
Gott, der wird dein Lohner sein
im Himmelreich, der Jungfrau Sohn Maria.
Eia!  Eia!

Gerne, liebe Maria mein,
helf ich dir wiegen das Kindelein.
Gott, der wird mein Lohner sein
im Himmelreich, der Jungfrau Sohn Maria.
Eia! Eia!

Freu dich nun, o Christenschar,
der himmlische König klar
nahm die Menschheit offenbar,
den uns gebar die reine Magd Maria.
Eia! Eia!

Süßer Jesu, auserkor’n,
weißt wohl, dass wir war’n verlor’n,
still uns deines Vaters Zorn,
dich hat gebor’n die reine Magd Maria.
Eia! Eia!

Here’s my quick approximate translation, which makes no claim whatsoever to poetic quality and, in fact, didn’t so much as attempt it.  It’s just literal:

Joseph, my dear Joseph,

help me rock my little child.

God will be the one who rewards you

in the Kingdom of Heaven, the Son of the Virgin Mary.

Eia!  Eia!

Happily, my dear Mary,

I will help you rock the little child.

God will be the one who rewards me

in the Kingdom of Heaven, the Son of the Virgin Mary.

Rejoice now, O Christian host!

Clearly the heavenly King

openly took upon himself humanity

in him whom the pure maiden Mary bore for us.

Eia!  Eia!

Sweet and chosen Jesus,

you well know that we were lost.

Calm for us your Father’s wrath.

The pure maiden Maria has borne you.

Eia!  Eia!

Posted from Richmond, Virginia