Guard Him, Joseph
MP3 Recording (T/B duet version) featuring vocals by
James Loynes
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His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful
MP3 accompaniment track--T/B duet
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CD:
His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful
MP3 Recording (solo version) featuring vocals by
Cris Fewox
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CD:
If I Had Been in Bethlehem
MP3 accompaniment track (very low voice)
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CD:
If I Had Been in Bethlehem--Accompaniment Tracks
View/print sheet music:
Medium-voice solo
Low-voice solo
Very low-voice solo
M/F Duet
SATB
Solo, T/B duet or two-part men
/
(One half-step higher)
We have been blessed with four babies in our family--though they're certainly not babies anymore! It was during the times when they actually were babies that I learned to appreciate their dad the most. He was so patient with them and with me, spending as many hours up with them at night as I did... probably more. I was thankful for the help, and even more thankful for his obvious love for them. How grateful Mary must have been for the support and care of her husband Joseph, who was called on to act as the earthly father of the Savior, and to love the Child as his own. That thought prompted the lyrics of this simple song one day as I was Christmas shopping and listening to Pachelbel's "Canon in D" on the store's muzak system. The first two lines of harmonic pattern and melody are loosely based on that canon, and the tenor/bass duet accompaniment and obbligato borrow from it.
Lyrics:
Guard him, Joseph, as he slumbers, there behind the stable doors
Let no errant sound distress him, tread thou softly on the floor
Linger watchful round the manger; hush thy voice and still the beasts
For thou hast within thy keeping Christ, the infant Prince of Peace
Guard him, Joseph, through the darkness; watching o'er him till the dawn
Bid the shepherds enter meekly, stand in wonder, gaze in awe
Trim thy lamp and shield thy candle; see they burn all through the night
For thou hast within thy keeping Christ, the everlasting Light
Guard him, Joseph, from all danger; keep thy vigil nigh his bed
Let no harm nor grief befall him; stand thou in a father's stead
When his mother's arms be weary, hold him gently as thine own
For thou hast within thy keeping God's own well-beloved Son.
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