Vaughan Williams collected a Herefordshire version of This is the Truth sent from above, relatively well known through its inclusion in the original 1928 edition of the Oxford Book of Carols, of which he was one of the editors. Our version comes from neighbouring Shropshire, collected by Cecil Sharp from Samuel Bradley and Seth Vauxhall (probably Gipsy singers) at Lilleshall in October 1911. Sharp’s notes to the song say “Always sung to this tune. Learned many years ago” (both singers were in their seventies). Nineteenth century printed versions commonly have sixteen verses, but we sing only the five given in the Oxford Book of Carols.

Knock At The Knocker, Ring At The Bell