See How the Virgin Waits

This is a folk-style Advent hymn about Mary as she waits for the birth of Jesus.

It was written by American Roman Catholic priest, teacher, playwright, folk-composer and author Willard F (Bill) Jabusch (1930-2018) in 1967.

It has been published by OCP Publications in several formats, including a leadsheet, and an unaccompanied SSAA setting (links below).

The hymn is set to an unnamed Slovak folk melody. This has a 4/4 time signature. In the key of E, the first few notes of the melody are E EF G F E B, E_ GG A B A G D G with accompanying chords Em / B7 / Em / B7 / Em / G / D / G.

Image from Maria gravida, or Mary at the Spinning Wheel from Németújvár,
C. 1410, artist unknown

Downloads

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Buy sheet music from OCP

Examples

Small guitar-led music group, live in a church service:

Singer with guitar:

Singer with piano:

Cantor with organ:

Instrumental - guitar:

Instrumental - electronic keyboard, with lead sheet music on-screen:

Instrumental - folk band:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

See how the Virgin waits for Him;
Mary in wonder waits for Him
Shake off your slumber; come all full of wonder.
Jesus is coming as the Prince of Peace.
Shake off your slumber; come all full of wonder.
Jesus is coming as the Prince of Peace.

Gently she hears the distant breeze swaying the silver olive trees.
What is she thinking as the sun is sinking,
waiting the birthday of her first born son?
What is she thinking as the sun is sinking,
waiting the birthday of her first born son?

Now a new pattern on the loom; now a new presence in the room.
Waking or sleeping, all her love she's keeping,
waiting the coming of the son of God.
Waking or sleeping all her love she's keeping,
waiting the coming of the son of God.