The melody of this Christmas song is a Norwegian variant of a Swedish folk tune from the Västergötland region that was first recorded and published by Erik Gustaf Geijer & Arvid August Afzelius in volume 2 of "Svenska folkvisor från forntiden" (Swedish folk songs from the past; 1814 - 1816) under the title “Oväntad bröllopsgäst” (Unexpected wedding guest). In Norway (and to a lesser extent in Denmark and Sweden) the melody is since the 19th century used for the Christmas song “Mitt hjerte alltid vanker” adopting lyrics by the Danish pietist hymn writer and priest Hans Adolph Brorson (1694-1764) that he published in 1732 in his song booklet Nøgle Jule-Psalmer (New Christmas hymns). Brorson later became bishop of Ribe. While in Norway “Mitt hjerte alltid vanker” employing this melody remains popular as a Christmas Carol to date, in Denmark Brorson’s lyrics are nowadays more commonly sung to a later tune by Carl Nielsen.

First verse of lyrics in modern Norwegian:
Mitt hjerte alltid vanker
i Jesu føderom,
der samles mine tanker
som I sin hovedsum.
Der er min lengsel hjemme,
der har min tro sin skatt;
jeg kan deg aldri glemme
velsignet julenatt!

First verse of lyrics in modern Danish:
Mit hjerte altid vanker
i Jesu føderum,
did samles mine tanker
i deres hovedsum;
dér er min længsel hjemme,
dér har min tro sin skat,
jeg kan dig aldrig glemme,
du søde julenat.

First verse of Brorson's original lyrics:
Mit hierte altid vanker
I JEsu føde-rum,
Did samles mine tanker
I deres hoved-sum.
Der er min længsel hiemme,
Der har min troe sin skat,
Jeg kand dig aldrig glemme,
Du søde jule-nat.

For 3 trumpets and 2 trombones

For 3 trumpets and 2 trombones

For 3 trumpets and 2 trombones