This edition was prepared by Gabrael StClair — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Down In Yon Forest
Staff Notation • Sacred, Christmas
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Down In Yon Forest by Anonymous — Lyrics
1. Down in yon forest there stands a hall:
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
It's covered all over with purple and pall:
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.
2. In that hall there stands a bed:
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
It's covered all over with scarlet so red:
And I love my Lord Jesus above anything.
3. At the bedside there lies a stone:
The bells of Paradise I heard them ring:
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About Down In Yon Forest
This carol, traditionally sung in English, is a poignant Christmas piece that draws on rich medieval imagery. Its anonymous composer crafts a deeply devotional text, likening the Virgin Mary's resting place to a hall adorned with purple and pall, then a bed covered in scarlet. The imagery culminates in a flood flowing from the bed's foot, divided between water and blood, a potent symbol of Christ's sacrifice. The recurring refrain, "And I love my Lord Jesus above anything," underscores the profound faith at the heart of this sacred song. The SSAT voicing offers a warm, blended texture ideal for conveying the carol's spiritual depth and narrative unfolding.
