Part I

King Pharaoh —

The Miracle of the Cock — Sussex Gypsies’ Carol

1. King Pharaoh sat a-musing,
A-musing all alone;
There came the blessèd Saviour,
Though all to him unknown.

2. “Say, where did you come from, good man?
Oh, where did you then pass?”
“It is out of the Land of Egypt,
Between an ox and ass.”

3. “Oh, if you come out of Egypt, man,
One thing I deem thou know’st:
Is Jesus born of Mary
And of the Holy Ghost?

4. “And if the news be true, good man,
That you are telling me,
Make this roasted cock to crow three times
In the dish which here we see.”

5. Oh, it’s straight away the cock did rise,
All feathered to the hand;
Three times the roasted cock did crow
On the dish where it did stand.