Good King Wenceslas - Traditional

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 cold wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather.

'Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger,
Fails my heart, I know not how;
I can go no longer.'
'Mark my footsteps, my good page,
Tread thou in them boldly;
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.'

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.

Good King Wenceslas lyrics are unique among carols for focusing on the virtue of charity and the legend of Saint Wenceslaus I. The song describes the king and his page journeying through snow moonlit deep and crisp and even to provide food and fuel to a neighbor in need. It teaches that those who bless the poor will find themselves blessed in return. By singing these lyrics congregations celebrate the spirit of giving that characterizes the Christmas season using the legend of the king to inspire tangible acts of kindness and social responsibility in their own communities.