"Jeanette, Isabella" from Tori’s seasonal record Midwinter Graces is based on the traditional 18th century carol "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella." As most of the carol covers on the album, Tori changed and added some lyrics and music.
Here, you can compare Tori’s version with the lyrics of the original carol.
For better appreciation, I used different colors.
Black : the lyrics are the same as the original carol
Orange : The lyrics are a rephrasing of the original carol (same meaning)
Red : Tori’s additional lyrics
I reported these colours on "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella"’s lyrics as well. In this case, the lyrics in red are the ones that have been left out in Tori’s version. You’ll find below two different versions of the English carol as Tori took from both.
Jeanette, Isabella
Bring your torches
Bring your torches
With every candle raised
With every lantern flame
Light after light in every village
Welcoming home every friend
Bring your torches
Bring your torches
Bring your torches Jeanette, Isabella
Bring your torch to the cradle run
Bring your torches Jeanette, Isabella
Bring your torch to the cradle run
Christ is born O come before him
Mary calls us to adore him
hush hush
Such a lovely mother
hush hush
Such a lovely son
Bring your torches
Bring your torches
Wish every light will find it’s way
This is what every mother prays
Night after night the lights they will guide you
Welcoming home every friend
Bring your torches
Bring your torches
Bring your torches Jeanette, Isabella
Bring your torch to the cradle run
Through the doorway softly filing
To his manger bed we creep
Torches’ glow the Babe discloses
Fair as snow, with cheeks like roses
hush, hush, hushaby sweetly smiling
hush, hush, hushaby fast asleep
Bring your torches Jeanette, Isabella
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabelle
Bring a torch, to the stable run
Christ is born. Tell the folk of the village
Jesus is born and Mary’s calling.
Ah!* Ah! beautiful is the Mother!
Ah! Ah! beautiful is her child
Who is that, knocking on the door?
Who is it, knocking like that?
Open up, we’ve arranged on a platter
Lovely cakes that we have brought here
Knock! Knock! Knock! Open the door for us!
Knock! Knock! Knock! Let’s celebrate!
It is wrong when the child is sleeping,
It is wrong to talk so loud.
Silence, now as you gather around,
Lest your noise should waken Jesus.
Hush! Hush! see how he slumbers ;
Hush! Hush! see how fast he sleeps!
Softly now unto the stable,
Softly for a moment come!
Look and see how charming is Jesus,
Look at him there, His cheeks are rosy!
Hush! Hush! see how the Child is sleeping;
Hush! Hush! see how he smiles in dreams!
Alternate version
Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabelle
Bring a torch to the cradle run!
It is Jesus, good folks of the village;
Christ is born and Mary’s calling:
Ah! ah! beautiful is the mother!
Ah! ah! beautiful is her Son!
It is wrong when the Child is sleeping
It is wrong to talk so loud;
Silence, all, as you gather around,
Lest your noise should waken Jesus:
Hush! hush! see how fast He slumbers:
Hush! hush! see how fast He sleeps!
Softly to the little stable,
Softly for the moment come;
Look and see how charming is Jesus,
See how He smiles, Oh see how rosy!
Hush! hush! see how the Child is sleeping;
Hush! hush! see how He smiles in dreams.