Seven Joys of Our Lady
(Roud 278)
Jamesie McCarthy
Mount Scott, Mullagh
Recorded during the singers’ concert at the Willie Clancy Summer School, July 1976
Carroll Mackenzie Collection

The first great joy Our Lady had it was the joy of one,
And it was the joy of her own dear son when He was born young,
And blessed may we be and blessed now is she,
And all who sing the seven great verse in honour of Our Lady.

The second great joy Our Lady had, it was the joy of two,
And it was the joy of her own dear son when He began to do.
And blessed may we be, and blessed now is she,
And all who sing the seven great verse in honour of Our Lady.

The third great joy Our Lady had, it was the joy of three,
And it was the joy of her own dear son when He made the blind to see.
And blessed may we be, and blessed now is she,
And all who sing the seven great verse in honour of Our Lady.

The fourth great joy Our Lady had, it was the joy of four,
And it was the joy of her own dear son when He raised the bible oh.
And blessed may we be, and blessed now is she,
And all who sing the seven great verse in honour of Our Lady.

The fifth great joy Our Lady had it was the joy of five,
I t was the joy of her own dear son when He raised the dead to life.
And blessed may we be and blessed now is she,
And all who sing the seven great verse in honour of Our Lady

The sixth great joy Our Lady had, it was the joy of six,
And it was the joy of her own dear son when He carried the crucifix.
And blessed may we be, and blessed now is she,
And all who sing the seven great verse in honour of Our Lady.

The seventh great joy Our Lady had it was the joy of seven,
And it was the joy of her own dear son when He opened the gates of Heaven.
And blessed may we be, and blessed now is she,
And all who sing the seven great verse in honour of Our Lady.

Sing Allelu-ia, Sing Allelu-ia, Sing Allel-u the Heavens is so,
Sing Alleluia.

“This was an old Christmas carol which has been taken into the oral tradition and adapted to suit different denominations and places. Numerous versions of it were recorded by Cecil Sharp in the south of England at the beginning of the 20th century.”
Jim Carroll