The Eight Traditional Carols , which were published in 1919, include some of the best-known folk songs collected by Vaughan Williams .

Though the contents record the county where the tunes were originally noted by the composer, they were by no means to be found exclusively in those districts alone. Because of the incomplete nature of some of the words as sung by the original performers, and in order to make longer versions suitable for wider use and appreciation, Vaughan Williams was sometimes obliged to extend or complete the texts from other sources.

The various editorial interventions were faithfully recorded in the original notes, which are retained for interest.