Britten: A Ceremony of Carols, Op. 28: XI. Deo gracias

Deo Gracias! Deo Gracias!

Adam lay ibounden, bounden in a bond

Four thousand winter thought he not too long.

Deo Gracias! Deo Gracias!

And all was for an appil,

An appil that he tok,

As clerkès finden written in their book.

Deo Gracias! Deo Gracias!

Ne had the appil takè ben,

The appil takè ben,

Ne haddè never our lady

A ben hevenè queen.

Blessed be the time

That appil takè was.

Therefore we moun singen,

Deo Gracias! Deo Gracias!