The Seven Joys (and Sorrows) of Mary were a popular theme in medieval art and didactic literature. This song is based on a fifteenth-century English folk poem and was often sung by poor women who went door to door during the Christmas season with a vessel cup bearing images of the baby Jesus and Mary.
The first good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of one;
To see the blessed Jesus Christ
When he was first her son:
Chorus:
When he was first her son, good man
And blessed may he be,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of two;
To see her own son, Jesus Christ,
To make the lame to go:
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of three;
To see her own son, Jesus Christ,
To make the blind to see:
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of four;
To see her own son,
Jesus Christ, To read the Bible o’er:
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of five;
To see her own son, Jesus Christ,
To bring the dead alive:
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of six;
To see her own son Jesus Christ,
Upon the crucifix:
The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of seven;
To see her own son,
Jesus Christ, ascending into heaven.