Joseph and his wedded wife

Words and music traditional, collected in 1905 from a Mr Carter of King’s Lynn, Norfolk.
​Arranged by Katy Lavinia Cooper. 

The song collector Lucy Broadwood identified five versions of this carol.  This one is to the tune of "Our Ship She Lays in Harbour", which can be traced to a London broadside of the early ninteenth century.

​Glasgow Madrigirls, a female chamber choir specialising in folk, traditional and early music, was founded at Glasgow University in 2000 by its conductor Katy Cooper and co-director Catriona Downie.
http://www.madrigirls.org.uk

​From Muldoon’s Picnic: KC, DA, HC, RH
From Madrigirls, led by KC: Daisy Abbott, Catriona Downie, Sacha Fullerton, Claudia Galdi, Joe Gatherer, Bridget Holtom, Emma Kerr, Lindis Kipp, Lindsay McIntyre, Naomi Mitchell, Rhian Nicholas, Kirsty Dalziel Robertson, Jennifer Scammell, Madeleine Schmoll, Rachel Taylor, Jo Tucker.

​Muldoons:
Old Joseph and his wedded wife,
Together as they met,
Betwixt them both they ne’er shall part,
How happy they may be.

No mortal man can remember well 
When Christ died on the rood;
It was for we and our wickedness
Christ shed his precious blood.

God bless the master of this house
With happiness beside;
And where he walks or where he rides
Lord Jesus be his guide.

All:
Gold bless your house, your children too,
Your cattle and your store;
The Lord increase you day by day 
And send you more and more. 

Madrigirls:
No mortal man can remember well 
When Christ our lord was born;
He was crucified between two thieves
And crownèd with the thorns.

No mortal man can remember well 
When Christ was wrappèd in clay;
He was buried in a new sepulchre 
Where no man ever lay.

God bless the mistress of this house 
With gold chain round her breast;
Wherever she weeps or where she sleeps
Lord send her soul to rest.