Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine

"Joseph dearest, Joseph mine,

Help me cradle the child divine;

God reward thee and All that's thine

In paradise,"

So prays the mother Mary.

[Chorus:]

He came among us at Christmastide,

At Christmastide, in Bethlehem;

Men shall bring Him from far and wide

Love's diadem: Jesus, Jesus,

Lo, He comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us!

"Gladly, dear one, lady mine,

Help I cradle this child of thine;

God's own light on us both shall shine

In paradise,

As prays the mother Mary."

[Chorus]

Peace to all that have goodwill!

God, who heaven and earth doth fill,

Comes to turn us away from ill,

And lies so still

Within the crib of Mary.

[Chorus]

All shall come and bow the knee,

Wise and happy their souls shall be.

Loving such a divinity

As all may see

In Jesus, Son of Mary.

[Chorus]

Now is born Emmanual,

Prophesied once by Ezekiel,

Promised Mary by Gabriel,

Ah, who can tell

Thy praises, Son of Mary.

[Chorus]

Thou my lazy heart hast stirred,

Thou, the Father's eternal Word,

Greater than aught that ear has heard,

Thou tiny bird

Of love, thou Son of Mary.

[Chorus]

Sweet and lovely little one,

Thou princely, beautiful, God's own Son,

Without thee all of us were undone;

Our love is Won

By thing, O Son of Mary.

[Chorus]

Little man, and God indeed,

Little and poor, thou art all we need;

We will follow where thou dost lead,

And we will heed

Our brother, born of Mary.

[Chorus]