From: Daphne Hunt  dlhunt@sympatico.ca
English tr. from French By Jesse E. Middleton 1872-1960)
	
Twas in the Moon of Wintertime 


       Em             Am    Bm
1)Twas in the moon of wintertime
                       Em
When all the birds had fled,
     Am           Em
That mighty Gichi Manitou
     Am    Bm         Em
Sent angel choirs instead;
G            Bm         C         D
Before their light the stars grew dim
    G         C       Am        D
and wond'ring hunters heard the hymn:
   Em       Bm
"Jesus your King is born
C  Bm    Am         G      Bm  Em  
Jesus is born: In excelsis gloria!"



2) Within a lodge of broken bark
The tenber Babe was found.
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped His beauty 'round;
And as the hunter braves drew nigh
The angel song rang loud and high:
"Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born: In excelsis gloria!"


3)The earliest moon of wintertime
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory 
On the helpless Infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt
With gifts of fox, and beaver pelt.
"Jesus, your king is born,
Jesus is born: In excelsis gloria!"


4) O children of the forest free,
O sons of Manitou,
The Holy Child of earth and heaven
Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.
"Jesus, your King is born,
Jesus is born: In excelsis gloria!"
_____


The following translation of the original Huron (unfortunately not
singable to the tune) words is attributed to John Steckley and someone
called Hechon..  Apparently, de Brebeuf wrote the words to the music of
a sixteenth cenury Carol called "Une Jeune Pucelle" ( A Young Maid). 


Iesous Ahatonnia (Jesus, he is born)


Have courage, you who are humans; Jesus, he is born 
Behold, the spirit who had us as prisoners has fled 
Do not listen to it, as it corrupts the spirits of our minds 
Jesus, he is born 


They are spirits, sky people, coming with a message for us 
They are coming to say, "Rejoice (Be on top of life)" 
Marie, she has just given birth. Rejoice" 
Jesus, he is born 


Three have left for such, those who are elders 
Tichion, a star that has just appeared on the horizon leads them there 
He will seize the path, he who leads them there 
Jesus, he is born 


As they arrived there, where he was born, Jesus 
the star was at the point of stopping, not far past it 
Having found someone for them, he says, "Come here!" 
Jesus, he is born 


Behold, they have arrived there and have seen Jesus, 
They praised (made a name) many times, saying "Hurray, he is good in
nature" 
They greeted him with reverence (greased his scalp many times), saying
'Hurray' 
Jesus, he is born 


"We will give to him praise for his name, 
Let us show reverence for him as he comes to be compassionate to us. 
It is providential that you love us and wish, 'I should adopt them.'" 
Jesus, he is born. 

http://history.cc.ukans.edu/kansas/wn/carol.htm
http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/charlene/huroncarol.html

Home