Cecil Sharp collected this version of the carol on 7 April 1909 sung by William Bayliss (63) of Laverton near Buckland, Glos.
Song Manuscript As Collected Copy
MIDI Tune as Collected
Some publications call this carol ‘On Christmas Night’. Different versions have been collected and the carol is also known as ‘On Christmas Night True Christians Sing’, ‘On Christmas Night All Christians Sing and ‘The Sussex Carol’.
Sharp published the carol in 1911 in ‘English Folk Carols’ saying ‘No alteration has been made in the words. … The words are on a broadside by Batchelar.’