It was poor little Jesus (Anonymous)

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• (Posted 2024-07-02)  CPDL #81144:       

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2024-07-02).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 41 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn in the version published in The Hymnal 1982, melody with words underlaid.

• (Posted 2024-07-02)  CPDL #81143:       

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2024-07-02).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 207 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn in the version published in The Hymnal 1982, melody with words.

General Information

Title: It was poor little Jesus
Tune: Poor Little Jesus
Composer: Anonymous
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 1v   Voicing: Unison
Genre: Sacred, Hymn   Meter: Irregular meter

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published:
Description: Afro-American spiritual, melody from Songs and Games of American Children, 1884-1911

External websites:

• https://embassysingers.de/scores/hymns.html

Original text and translations

English text

It was poor little Jesus, yes, yes;
he was born on Christmas, yes, yes;
and laid in a manger, yes, yes;
wasn’t that a pity and a shame, Lord, Lord,
wasn’t that a pity and a shame?

It was poor little Jesus, yes, yes;
child of Mary, yes, yes;
didn’t have a cradle, yes, yes;
wasn’t that a pity and a shame, Lord, Lord,
wasn’t that a pity and a shame?

It was poor little Jesus, yes, yes;
they nailed him to the cross, Lord, yes, yes;
they hung him with a robber, yes, yes;
wasn’t that a pity and a shame, Lord, Lord,
wasn’t that a pity and a shame?

It was poor little Jesus, yes, yes;
he’s risen from darkness, yes, yes;
he’s ’scended into glory, yes, yes;
no more a pity and a shame, Lord, Lord,
no more a pity and a shame.