๐ŸŽต Christmas Carol Lyrics

Good King Wenceslas lyrics

The full traditional words to Good King Wenceslas, verse by verse, with a little of the carol's history.

The words

Traditional Medium

Good King Wenceslas looked out,
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gathering winter fuel.

"Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou know'st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence,
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh and bring me wine,
Bring me pine logs hither,
Thou and I will see him dine,
When we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went,
Forth they went together,
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather.

In his master's steps he trod,
Where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
Shall yourselves find blessing.

All carol lyrics

About Good King Wenceslas

John Mason Neale, an English priest and hymn writer, wrote the words in 1853. He set them to a spring carol tune, Tempus adest floridum, which appears in Piae Cantiones, a collection of songs printed in 1582.

Wenceslas was a real person: a 10th century Duke of Bohemia, now the patron saint of the Czech Republic. The carol tells of him going out in the snow to help a poor man on the Feast of Stephen, 26 December, which in Britain is also Boxing Day.

Good King Wenceslas is traditional and out of copyright, so the words are free to print and sing at school, at church or at home. For printable sheets, download our free carols and activities pack (PDF).