Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, friends... enjoy the last days of Advent with a little bit of Medieval loveliness, one of my favorite songs. The lyrics are posted below, and this song is featured on a lovely recording that a friend of mine introduced me to years ago. (Thanks, Abe!)

Adam Lay Ybounden

Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond,
Four thousand winter thoughte he not too long;
And al was for an apple, and apple that he took,
As clerkes finden writen, writen in hire book.
Ne hadde the apple taken been, the apple taken been,
Ne hadde nevere Oure Lady ybeen hevene Queen.
Blessed be the time that apple taken was:
Therfore we mown singen Deo Gratias.

Here's a little explanation from someone wiser and wittier than I. Merry Christmas!