In the Valley

DESCRIPTION: "I was in Judah's(?) land by God's (immortal) hand That Jesus Christ was born in the vally, In the valley, in the valley, That Jesus Christ was born in the valley." The early life of Jesus is recounted, and listeners advised to heed and rejoice
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1936 (Library of Congress recording)
KEYWORDS: religious Jesus
FOUND IN: US(Ap,SE)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Brown/Belden/Hudson-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore3 534, "In the Valley" (1 text)
Brown/Schinhan-FrankCBrownCollectionNCFolklore5 534, "In the Valley" (1 tune plus a text excerpt)
Wells-TheBalladTree, p. 192, "In the Valley" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #11874
NOTES [68 words]: This is a rather odd song; most of the early verses are based on the Biblical accounts of the Nativity in Matthew and Luke -- but the reference to "the valley" has no Biblical connection that I can see. Unless it refers to the Jordan valley, where John the Baptist, and presumably Jesus, began his ministry.
Jean Ritchie learned this song early in life, but forgot most of the words and composed new ones. - RBW
Last updated in version 4.1
File: Br3534

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