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God Bless the Master

[ Roud 1066 ; Ballad Index CoSB272 ; trad.]

The Watersons sang the carol God Bless the Master on their 1977 album Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy. It was also included on the 1990 CD reissue of Frost and Fire and in 2003 on The Definitive Collection. A live version from a Christmas radio programme recorded in December 1980 at Crathorne Hall, Crathorne, North Yorkshire, was published in 2005 on the CD A Yorkshire Christmas. A.L. Lloyd commented in the original album's sleeve notes:

A carol that is midway between a wassail and a hymn, so a link between pagan luck-wish and pious hope. The words were widespread on garlands and broadsides around 1850, and several versions have been collected in the Southern counties during the twentieth century (most recently by Bob Copper at North Waltham, Hants). The Watersons' tune and words are close to the set found by Vaughan Williams in 1909 at Preston Candover, barely five miles from North Waltham. The song was much used as a Mummers' Salutation, sung as an overture in front of the houses at New Year before the mummers began their patter.

Lyrics

The Watersons sing God Bless the Master

God bless the master of this house
And send him long to reign;
Wherever he walks wherever he rides,
𝄆 Lord Jesus be his guide. 𝄇

God bless the mistress of this house
With a gold chain round her breast;
Amongst her friends and kindred
𝄆 God send her soul to rest. 𝄇

From morn till morn remember thou
When first our Christ was born,
He was crucified between two thieves
𝄆 And crowned with a thorn. 𝄇

From morn till morn remember thou
When Christ lay on the rood,
'Twas for our sins and wickedness
Christ shed his precious blood,
Christ has shed his precious blood

From morn till morn remember thou
When Christ was wrapped in clay;
He was put into some sepulchre
𝄆 Where never no man lay. 𝄇

God bless the ruler of this house
And send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas
𝄆 We may live to see again. 𝄇

Now I have said my carol
Which I intend to do;
God bless us all both great and small
𝄆 And send us a happy New Year. 𝄇

Acknowledgements

Transcribed from the singing of the Watersons by Garry Gillard.