The really fascinating thing about this is how quickly it became a “19th century” benediction. From what I can tell, the work was originally released in Thurman’s “In The Mood of Christmas & Other Celebrations,” published in 1985.

It reminds me of a story I read about Si Khan’s “Aragon Mill.” Finbar Furey sang the song as “Belfast Mill,” and just like that, it became an Irish folk song.