Christmas Carols

from the parish book of carols

Adeste fideles

Angels we have heard on high

As with gladness men of old

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed

Child in a manger, infant of Mary

Come, come to the manger

Ding dong! Merrily on high

God rest you merry gentlemen

Hark, the herald-angels sing

In the bleak midwinter

It came upon the midnight clear

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

Joy to the world! The Lord is come

Little Jesus, sweetly sleep

Long time ago in Bethlehem

Love came down at Christmas

O come, all ye faithful

Of the Father's love begotten

O little town of Bethlehem

On Christmas night all Christians sing

Once in royal David's city

See amid the winter's snow

Silent night

Sing of Mary, pure and lowly

The Angel Gabriel

The first Nowell

The holly and the ivy

Unto us is born a Son

We three kings

What child is this

While shepherds watched

 

Back to Jesus Christ: Index

Back to: Contents

 

 

 

I

Adeste fideles,

laeti triumphantes,

venite, venite in Bethlehem;

natum videte regem angelorum:

 

Venite adoremus (2)

venite adoremus Dominum.

 

Deum de Deo,

lumen de lumine,

gestant puellae viscera:

Deum verum,

genitum, non factum:

 

Venite adoremus (2)

venite adoremus Dominum.

 

Cantet, nunc io!

Chorus angelorum:

cantet nunc aula caelestium;

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

 

Venite adoremus (2)

venite adoremus Dominum.

 

Ergo qui natus

die hodierna,

Jesu tibi sit gloria:

Patris aeterna Verbum caro factum!

 

Venite adoremus (2)

venite adoremus Dominum.

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II

Angels we have heard on high

sweetly singing o'er the plains,

and the mountains in reply

echo still their joyous strains.

 

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

Shepherds, why this jubilee?

Why your rapturous strain prolong?

Say, what may your tidings be,

which inspire your heavenly song.

 

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

Come to Bethlehem and see

Him whose birth the angels sing:

come, adore on bended knee,

the infant Christ, the new-born king.

 

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

 

See within a manger laid,

Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth!

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid

to celebrate our Saviour's birth.

 

Gloria in excelsis Deo.

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III

As with gladness men of old,

did the guiding star behold,

as with joy they hailed its light,

leading onward, beaming bright,

so, most gracious God, may we

evermore be led to thee.

 

As with joyful steps they sped,

to that lowly manger bed,

there to bend the knee before

Him whom heaven and earth adore,

so may we with willing feet

ever seek thy mercy-seat.

 

As they offered gifts most rare,

at that manger rude and bare,

so may we with holy joy,

pure, and free from sin's alloy,

all our costliest treasures bring,

Christ, to thee our heavenly King.

 

Holy Jesu, every day

keep us in the narrow way;

and, when earthly things are past,

bring our ransomed soul at last

where they need no star to guide,

where no clouds thy glory hide.

 

In the heavenly country bright

need they no created light,

thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,

thou its Sun which goes not down;

there forever may we sing

alleluias to our King.

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IV

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.

The star in the bright sky looked down where He lay,

the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

 

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,

but little Lord Jesus no crying He makes.

I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,

and stay by my side until morning is nigh.

 

Be near me, Lord Jesus! I ask thee to stay

close by me forever, and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,

and fit us for heaven, to live with thee there.

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V

Child in a manger, infant of Mary;

out-cast and stranger, Lord of all;

child who inherits all our transgressions,

all our demerits on Him fall.

 

Once the most holy child of salvation

gently and lowly lived below;

now as our glorious mighty Redeemer,

see Him victorious o'er each foe.

 

Prophets foretold Him, infant of wonder;

angels behold Him on His throne;

worthy our Saviour of all their praises;

happy forever are His own.

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VI

Come, come to the manger,

children, come to the children's King;

sing, sing, chorus of angels,

star of morning o'er Bethlehem sing,

 

He lies 'mid the beasts of the stall,

who is Maker and Lord of us all;

the wintry wind blows cold and dreary,

see, He weeps, the world is weary;

Lord, have pity and mercy on me!

 

Come, come to the manger,

children, come to the children's King;

sing, sing, chorus of angels,

star of morning o'er Bethlehem sing,

 

He leaves all His glory behind,

to be born and to die for mankind,

with grateful beasts His cradle chooses,

thankless world His love refuses;

Lord, have pity and mercy on me!

 

Come, come to the manger,

children, come to the children's King;

sing, sing, chorus of angels,

star of morning o'er Bethlehem sing,

 

To the manger of Bethlehem come,

to the Saviour Emmanuel's home,

the heav'nly hosts above are singing,

set the Christmas bells a-ringing;

Lord, have pity and mercy on me!

 

Come, come to the manger,

children, come to the children's King;

sing, sing, chorus of angels,

star of morning o'er Bethlehem sing,

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VII

Ding dong! Merrily on high,

in heav'n the bells are ringing;

ding dong! Verily the sky

is riv'n with angel singing.

 

Gloria, hosanna in excelsis

 

E'en so here below, below,

let steeple bells be sungen;

and io, io, io,

by priest and people sungen.

 

Gloria, hosanna in excelsis

 

Pray you, dutifully prime

your matin chime, ye ringers;

may you beautifully rhyme

your eventime song, ye singers.

 

Gloria, hosanna in excelsis

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VIII

God rest you merry gentlemen,

let nothing you dismay,

for Jesus Christ our Saviour

was born upon this day,

to save us all from Satan's power

when we were gone astray:

 

O tidings of comfort and joy. (2)

 

In Bethlehem in Jewry

this blessed babe was born,

and laid within a manger,

upon this blessed morn:

the which His mother Mary

nothing take in scorn.

 

O tidings of comfort and joy. (2)

 

From God our heavenly Father

a blessed angel came,

and unto certain shepherds

brought tidings of the same,

how that in Bethlehem was born

the Son of God by name:

 

O tidings of comfort and joy. (2)

 

"Fear not," then said the angel,

"let nothing  you affright,

this day is born a Saviour,

of virtue, power and might;

so frequently to vanquish all

the friends of Satan quite."

 

O tidings of comfort and joy. (2)

 

The shepherds at those tidings

rejoiced much in mind,

and left their flocks a-feeding,

in tempest, storm and wind,

and went to Bethlehem straightaway

the Son of God to find.

 

O tidings of comfort and joy. (2)

 

But when to Bethlehem they came,

whereat this infant lay,

they found Him in a manger,

where oxen feed on hay;

His mother Mary kneeling,

unto the Lord did pray.

 

O tidings of comfort and joy. (2)

 

Now to the Lord sing praises,

all you within this place,

and with true love and brotherhood

each other now embrace;

this holy tide of Christmas

all others doth deface.

 

O tidings of comfort and joy. (2)

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IX

Hark, the herald-angels sing

glory to the new-born King;

peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled:

joyful all ye nations rise,

join the triumph of the skies,

with the angelic host proclaim,

'Christ is born in Bethlehem.'

 

Hark, the herald-angels sing

glory to the new-born King.

 

Christ, by highest heaven adored,

Christ, the everlasting Lord,

late in time behold Him come,

offspring of the virgin's womb!

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,

hail, the incarnate Deity!

Pleased as man with us to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

 

Hark, the herald-angels sing

glory to the new-born King.

 

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings,

risen with healing in His wings;

mild He lays His glory by,

born that we no more may die,

born to raise us from the earth,

born to give us second birth.

 

Hark, the herald-angels sing

glory to the new-born King.

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X

In the bleak midwinter,

frosty wind made moan,

earth stood hard as iron,

water like a stone;

snow has fallen, snow on snow,

snow on snow,

in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

 

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him,

nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away

when He comes to reign:

In the bleak midwinter,

a stable-place sufficed,

the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

 

Enough for Him, whom Cherubim

worship night and day,

a breastful of milk,

and a mangerful of hay:

enough for Him, whom angels

fall down before,

the ox and ass and camel which adore.

 

Angels and archangels

may have gathered there.

Cherubim and Seraphim

thronged the air.

But only His mother,

in her maiden bliss,

worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

 

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd,

I would bring a lamb.

If I were a wise man,

I would do my part;

yet what I can I give Him - give my heart.

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XI

It came upon the midnight clear,

that glorious song of old,

from angels bending near the earth

to touch their harps of gold;

'Peace on the earth, good will to men,

from heaven's all-gracious King!'

Th world in solemn stillness lay

to hear the angels sing.

 

Yet with the woes of sin and strife

the world has suffered long;

beneath the angel-strain have rolled

two thousand years of wrong;

and man, at war with man, hears not

the love-song which they bring:

O hush the noise, ye men of strife,

and hear the angels sing!

 

For lo, the days are hastening on,

by prophets seen of old,

when with the ever-circling years

shall come the time foretold,

when the new heaven and earth shall own

the Prince of Peace the King,

and all the world send back the song,

which the angels sing.

Top

 

XII

I wonder as I wander out under the sky,

how Jesus the Saviour did come for to die

for poor ord'n'ry people like you and like I

I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

 

When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall

with wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.

But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,

and the promise of ages it then recall.

 

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,

a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,

or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing

He surely could have it, 'cause He was the king.

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XIII

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;

let earth receive her King;

let every heart prepare Him a room,

and heaven and nature sing,

and heaven and nature sing,

and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

 

Joy to the world! The Saviour reigns;

let us our songs employ;

while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

repeat the sounding joy,

repeat the sounding joy,

repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

 

He rules the world with truth and grace,

and makes the nations prove

the glories of His righteousness,

and wonders of His love,

and wonders of His love,

and wonders, and wonders of His love.

Top

 

XIV

Little Jesus, sweetly sleep,

do not stir; we will lend a coat of fur;

we will rock you, rock you, rock you,

we will rock you, rock you, rock you;

see the fur to keep you warm,

snugly round your tiny form.

 

Mary's little baby sleep, sweetly sleep,

sleep in comfort, slumber deep;

we will rock you, rock you, rock you,

we will rock you, rock you, rock you;

we will serve you all we can,

darling, darling little man.

Top

 

XV

Long time ago in Bethlehem,

so the Holy Bible say,

Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ,

was born on Christmas Day.

 

Hark now hear the angels sing,

A new king born today.

And man will live forever more,

because of Christmas Day.

Trumpets sound and angels sing.

Listen to what they say - that man will live forever more,

because of Christmas Day.

 

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

them see a bright new shining star,

them hear a choir sing,

the music seem to come from afar.

Now Joseph and his wife Mary

come to Bethlehem that night,

them find no place to born she child,

not a single room was in sight.

 

Hark now hear the angels sing,

A new king born today.

And man will live forever more,

because of Christmas Day.

Trumpets sound and angels sing.

Listen to what they say - that man will live forever more,

because of Christmas Day.

 

By and by they find a little nock

in a stable all forlorn,

and in a manger cold and dark

Mary's boy child was born.

Long time ago in Bethlehem,

so the Holy Bible say,

Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ

was born on Christmas Day.

 

Hark now hear the angels sing,

A new king born today.

And man will live forever more,

because of Christmas Day.

Trumpets sound and angels sing.

Listen to what they say - that man will live forever more,

because of Christmas Day.

Top

 

XVI

Love came down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, Love divine;

Love was born at Christmas,

star and angels gave the sign.

 

Worship we the Godhead,

Love incarnate, Love divine;

worship we our Jesus:

but wherewith for sacred sign?

 

Love shall be our token,

love be yours and love be mine,

love to God and all men,

love for plea and gift and sign.

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XVII

O come, all ye faithful,

joyful and triumphant.

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

come and behold Him,

born the king of angels:

 

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

 

God of God, Light of light,

lo, He abhors not the Virgin's womb;

very God, begotten not created:

 

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

 

Sing, choirs of angels,

sing in exultation,

sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above;

glory to God in the highest:

 

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

 

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,

born this happy morning,

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:

 

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ the Lord.

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XVIII

Of the Father's love begotten,

ere the worlds began to be,

He is Alpha and Omega,

He the source, the ending He,

of all things that are and have been

and that future years shall see:

 

Evermore and evermore

 

By His word was all created.

He commanded, it was done

heaven and earth and depth of ocean,

universe the three in one,

all that grows beneath the shining

of the light of moon and sun:

 

Evermore and evermore

 

Blessed was the day forever

when the virgin, full of grace,

by the Holy Ghost conceiving,

bore the Saviour of our race,

and the child, the world's Redeemer,

first revealed His sacred face:

 

Evermore and evermore

 

O, ye heights of heaven, adore Him,

Angels and archangels sing!

Every creature bow before Him,

singing praise to God our King.

Let no earthly tongue be silent,

all the world with homage ring:

 

Evermore and evermore

 

He, by prophets sung, is here now,

promised since the world begun,

now on earth in flesh descended

to atone for sins of man.

All creation praise its Master,

see fulfilment of His plan:

 

Evermore and evermore

 

Glory to God the Father,

glory to God the Son,

glory to the Holy Spirit,

persons three, yet Godhead one.

Glory be to all creation

while eternal ages run:

 

Evermore and evermore

Top

 

XIX

O little town of Bethlehem,

how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

the silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

the everlasting light;

the hopes and fears of all the years

are met in thee tonight.

 

O morning stars, together

proclaim the holy birth,

and praises sing to God the King,

and peace upon the earth.

For Christ is born of Mary;

and, gathered all above,

while mortals sleep, the angels keep

their watch of wond'ring love.

 

How silently, how silently,

the wondrous gift is giv'n!

So God imparts to human hearts

the blessings of His heav'n.

No ear can hear His coming;

but in this world of sin,

where meek souls will receive Him

still, the dear Christ enters in.

 

O holy child of Bethlehem,

descend to us, we pray;

cast out our sin, and enter in,

be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels

the great glad tidings tell:

O come to us, abide with us,

our Lord Emmanuel.

Top

 

XX

On Christmas night all Christians sing,

to hear the news the angels bring.

On Christmas night all Christians sing,

to hear the news the angels bring,

news of great joy, news of great mirth,

news of our merciful King's birth.

 

Then why should we on earth be so sad,

since our Redeemer made us glad,

then why should we on earth be so sad,

since our Redeemer made us glad,

when from our sin He set us free,

all for to gain our liberty?

 

When sin departs before His grace,

then life and health come in its place,

when sin departs before His grace,

then life and health come in its place,

angels and earth with joy may sing,

all for to see the new-born King.

 

All out of darkness we have light,

which made the angels sing this night:

all out of darkness we have light,

which made the angels sing with light,

'Glory to God and peace to men,

now and for evermore. Amen.'

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XXI

Once in royal David's city

stood a lowly cattle shed,

where a Mother laid her baby,

in a manger for His bed:

Mary was that Mother mild,

Jesus Christ, her little child.

 

He came down to earth from heaven,

who is God and Lord of all,

and His shelter was a stable,

and His cradle was a stall;

with the poor and mean and lowly,

lived on earth the Saviour holy.

 

And through all His wondrous childhood

He would honour and obey,

love, and watch the lowly maiden

in whose gentle arms He lay.

Christian children all must be

mild, obedient, good as He.

 

For He is our childhood's pattern

day by day like us He grew;

He was little, weak and helpless,

tears and smiles like us He knew;

and He feeleth for our sadness,

and He shareth in our gladness.

 

And our eyes at last shall see Him

through His own redeeming love,

for that child so dear and gentle

is our Lord in heav'n above;

and he leads His children on

to the place where He is gone.

 

Not in that poor lowly stable,

with the oxen standing by,

we shall see Him; but in heaven,

set at God's right hand on high;

when like stars His children crowned,

all in white shall wait around.

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XXII

See amid the winter's snow,

born for us on earth below,

see the tender Lamb appears,

promised from eternal years.

 

Hail, thou ever blessed morn,

Hail, redemption's happy dawn!

Sing through all Jerusalem,

Christ is born in Bethlehem.

 

Lo, within a manger lies

He who built the starry skies;

He who, throned in heights sublime,

sits amid the cherubim.

 

Hail, thou ever blessed morn,

Hail, redemption's happy dawn!

Sing through all Jerusalem,

Christ is born in Bethlehem

 

Say, ye holy shepherds, say,

what your joyful news today?

Wherefore have ye left your sheep

on the lonely mountain steep?

 

Hail, thou ever blessed morn,

Hail, redemption's happy dawn!

Sing through all Jerusalem,

Christ is born in Bethlehem

 

'As we watched at dead of night,

lo, we saw a wondrous light;

angels, singing peace on earth,

told us of the Saviour's birth.'

 

Hail, thou ever blessed morn,

Hail, redemption's happy dawn!

Sing through all Jerusalem,

Christ is born in Bethlehem

 

Sacred infant, all divine,

what a tender love was thine,

thus to come from highest bliss,

down to such a world as this!

 

Hail, thou ever blessed morn,

Hail, redemption's happy dawn!

Sing through all Jerusalem,

Christ is born in Bethlehem

 

Virgin mother, Mary blest,

by the joys that fill thy breast,

pray for us, that we may prove

worthy of the Saviour's love.

 

Hail, thou ever blessed morn,

Hail, redemption's happy dawn!

Sing through all Jerusalem,

Christ is born in Bethlehem

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XXIII

Silent night, holy night.

All is calm, all is bright,

round yon virgin mother and child;

holy infant, so tender and mild,

sleep in heavenly peace,

sleep in heavenly peace.

 

Silent night, holy night.

Shepherds quake at the sight,

glories stream from heaven afar,

heavenly hosts sing alleluia:

Christ the Saviour is born,

Christ the Saviour is born.

 

Silent night, holy night.

Son of God, love's pure light,

radiant beams from thy holy face,

with the dawn of redeeming grace:

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

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XXIV

Sing of Mary, pure and lowly,

virgin mother undefiled.

Sing of God's own Son most holy,

who became her little child.

Fairest child of fairest mother,

God, the Lord who came to earth,

Word made flesh, our very brother,

takes our nature by His birth.

 

Sing of Jesus, son of Mary,

in the home at Nazareth.

Toil and labour cannot weary

love enduring unto death.

Constant was the love He gave her,

though He went forth from her side,

forth to preach and heal and suffer,

till on Calvary He died.

 

Glory be to God the Father,

glory be to God the Son,

glory be to God the Spirit,

glory be to the three in one.

From the heart of blessed Mary,

from all saints the song ascends

and the Church the strain re-echoes

unto earth's remotest ends.

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XXV

The Angel Gabriel from heaven came.

His wings as drifted snow his eyes as flame:

'All hail,' said he, 'though lowly maiden Mary

Most highly favoured lady!' Gloria!

 

For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be:

All generations laud and honour thee:

Thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold

Most highly favoured lady! Gloria!

 

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head:

'To me be as it pleaseth God!' she said.

'My soul shall laud and magnify His Holy Name.'

Most highly favoured lady! Gloria!

 

Of her Emmanuel, the Christ, was born,

In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn;

And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:

Most highly favoured lady! Gloria!

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XXVI

The first Nowell the angel did say

was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,

on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

 

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

Born is the King of Israel!

 

They looked up and saw a star,

shining in the east, beyond them far;

and to the earth it gave great light,

and so it continued both day and night.

 

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

Born is the King of Israel!

 

And by the light of that same star,

three wise men came from country far;

to seek for a king was their intent,

and to follow the star wherever it went.

 

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

Born is the King of Israel!

 

This star drew nigh to the north-west,

o'er Bethlehem it took its rest,

and there it did both stop and stay

right over the place where Jesus lay.

 

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

Born is the King of Israel!

 

Then entered in those wise men three,

full rev'rently upon their knee,

and offered there in His presence,

their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

 

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

Born is the King of Israel!

 

Then let us all with one accord

sing praises to our heavenly Lord,

that hath made heaven and earth of naught,

and with His blood mankind hath bought.

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XXVII

The holly and the ivy,

when they are both full grown,

of all the trees that are in the wood

the holly bears a crown.

 

The rising of the sun

and the running of the deer,

the playing of the merry organ,

sweet singing in the choir.

 

The holly bears a blossom,

white as the lily flower,

and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

to be a sweet Saviour.

 

The rising of the sun

and the running of the deer,

the playing of the merry organ,

sweet singing in the choir.

 

The holly bears a berry,

as red as any blood,

and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

to do poor sinners good.

 

The rising of the sun

and the running of the deer,

the playing of the merry organ,

sweet singing in the choir.

 

The holly bears a prickle,

as sharp as any thorn,

and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

on Christmas day in the morn.

 

The rising of the sun

and the running of the deer,

the playing of the merry organ,

sweet singing in the choir.

 

The holly bears a bark,

as bitter as any gall,

and Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ

for to redeem us all.

 

The rising of the sun

and the running of the deer,

the playing of the merry organ,

sweet singing in the choir.

 

The holly and the ivy,

when they are both full grown,

of all the trees that are in the wood

the holly bears a crown.

 

The rising of the sun

and the running of the deer,

the playing of the merry organ,

sweet singing in the choir.

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XXVIII

Unto us is born a Son,

King of quires supernal:

see on earth His life begun,

of lords the Lord eternal. (2)

 

Christ, from heav'n descending low,

comes on earth a stranger:

ox and ass their owner know

becradled in a manger. (2)

 

This did Herod sore affray,

and grievously bewilder:

so He gave the word to slay,

and slew the little childer. (2)

 

Of all his love and mercy mild

this the Christmas story,

and O that Mary's gentle Child

Might led us up to glory. (2)

 

O and A and A and O

cum cantibus in choro,

let the merry organ go

Benedicamus Domino. (2)

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XXIX

We three kings of Orient are,

bearing gifts we traverse afar,

field and fountain, moor and mountain,

following yonder star.

 

O star of wonder, star of night,

star with royal beauty bright,

westward leading, still proceeding,

guide us to thy perfect light.

 

Born a King on Bethlehem plain,

gold I bring, to crown Him again,

King forever, ceasing never,

over us all to reign.

 

O star of wonder, star of night,

star with royal beauty bright,

westward leading, still proceeding,

guide us to thy perfect light.

 

Frankincense to offer have I,

incense owns a Deity nigh.

Prayer and praising, all men raising,

worship Him, God most high.

 

O star of wonder, star of night,

star with royal beauty bright,

westward leading, still proceeding,

guide us to thy perfect light.

 

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume

breathes a life of gathering gloom;

sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,

sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

 

O star of wonder, star of night,

star with royal beauty bright,

westward leading, still proceeding,

guide us to thy perfect light.

 

Glorious now behold arise,

King and God and sacrifice,

alleluia, alleluia,

earth to heaven replies.

 

O star of wonder, star of night,

star with royal beauty bright,

westward leading, still proceeding,

guide us to thy perfect light.

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XXX

What child is this who, laid to rest,

on Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,

while shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

come, greet the infant Lord,

the babe, the Son of Mary!

 

Why lies He in such mean estate,

where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians, fear: for sinners here

the silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spears shall pierce Him through,

the cross be borne for me, for you:

hail, hail the Word made flesh,

the babe, the Son of Mary!

 

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,

come rich and poor, to own Him.

The King of kings salvation brings,

let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise the song on high,

the Virgin sings her lullaby:

joy, joy for Christ is born,

the babe, the Son of Mary!

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XXXI

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

all seated on the ground,

the angel of the Lord came down,

and glory shone around.

 

'Fear not,' said he (for mighty dread

had seized their troubled mind);

'glad tidings of great joy I bring

to you and all mankind.

 

'To you in David's town this day

is born of David's line

a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;

and this shall be the sign:

 

'The heavenly babe you there shall find

to human view displayed,

all meanly wrapped in swathing bands,

and in a manger laid.'

 

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith

appeared a shining throng

of angels praising God, who thus

addressed their joyful song:

 

'All glory be to God on high,

and to the earth be peace;

goodwill henceforth from heav'n

to men begin and never cease.'

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