The sentiments of this carol fit in with many Victorian carols which, rather than concentrating on the more picturesque and pastoral elements of the nativity, prefer to include scriptural warnings of man’s frail humanity.  Mrs Ockwell’s carol as such is rare, the only other comparable text being the “Hampshire Mummer’s Carol”, but floating verses from it do appear in other carols.

Notes by Gwilym Davies 17 March 2016