This charming carol is an arrangement of the melody (of the verse only) of the German Joseph lieber, Joseph mein, found in a manuscript of about 1500, at Leipzig University. It sets the first three verses of the translation by Neville S Talbot (1879-1943), Bishop of Pretoria and subsequently Rector of St Mary's, Nottingham and Assistant Bishop of Southwell.

The setting is for unaccompanied SATB choir without divisi. The first verse is sung by sopranos and the second by tenors, with other parts harmonising in counterpoint without words. All parts sing the last verse together.