Green (Mayer)
Hymn composed by
Traditional French carolContextual information
One feature of our winter traditions is how we embrace greenery—particularly evergreens which keep their color throughout the winter, even in the frozen North. I have learned that this is a very old tradition, and seems to be a declaration of how life endures, even through the darkest and the coldest time.
The hymn tune for this song is called BESANÇON, a centuries-old folk tune of unknown origin, which is named after a city by the same name in France. I learned the melody from singing the hymn “People Look East” in church, and have always loved the beautiful lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon which first appeared in 1928. I thought BESANÇON could also be a great setting for a lyric that celebrates the color of the evergreens that we bring into our homes each winter.
One feature of our winter traditions is how we embrace greenery—particularly evergreens which keep their color throughout the winter, even in the frozen North. I have learned that this is a very old tradition, and seems to be a declaration of how life endures, even through the darkest and the coldest time.
The hymn tune for this song is called BESANÇON, a centuries-old folk tune of unknown origin, which is named after a city by the same name in France. I learned the melody from singing the hymn “People Look East” in church, and have always loved the beautiful lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon which first appeared in 1928. I thought BESANÇON could also be a great setting for a lyric that celebrates the color of the evergreens that we bring into our homes each winter.
Tune Name
BESANÇON
Tune Name
Text Meter
8.7.9.8.8.7.
10.9.10.9
Song Composer
Traditional French carolHymn Arranger
Composer Background information
Lyricist Background information
Peter Mayer (he/him) is a full-time singer/songwriter and a UU who travels and performs in acoustic venues and churches across the United States. He has released 11 albums of his work, and many singles as well. He lives in Stillwater, MNN with his wife and two daughters.
Arranger Background information
Lyrics
When winter’s gray is on the sky,
Rust upon the leaves that lie,
Red on the last few berries clinging,
Brown on the branch where the bitter wind’s singing—
Even when white obscures the scene,
Still, in winter, there is green
Waving defiant pine tree boughs,
Cedar needles, stubborn and proud,
Hiding inside the seeds of summer,
And deep in the root where it sleeps under cover—
Patiently waiting there unseen,
In the winter, there is green
Death may raise its voice today;
O, but Life will have its say,
Speaking in lovers and in children,
In poets’ pens and philosophers’ visions.
Life is a planet’s daring dream:
Earth’s devotion, spoken in green
So keep it in your winter store,
Hang its garland ’round the door,
Grant to your heart its hopeful promise,
Fashion a wreath for its blessing upon us.
Winter brings browns and grays indeed;
But when it comes, remember green.
Resources
Music XML and MEI and MIDI and Musescore files