On the east­ern plain the flocks are sleep­ing,
Are sweet­ly sleep­ing, are sweet­ly sleep­ing;
O’er them faith­ful shep­herds watch are keep­ing,
While sweet­est mu­sic fills the air.

Refrain

The bells are ring­ing, sweet­ly ring­ing,
The mer­ry, mer­ry bells, the Christ­mas bells;
The bells are ring­ing, sweet­ly ring­ing,
The mer­ry bells, the Christ­mas bells.

Wondrous is the news their tones are tell­ing,
Are soft­ly tell­ing, are soft­ly tell­ing;
Round the wait­ing earth in cho­rus swell­ing,
They tell of Je­sus, born this day.

Refrain

Still the mes­sage round the earth is ring­ing,
Is sweet­ly ring­ing, is sweet­ly ring­ing;
Nations to the King are trib­ute bring­ing,
To Christ, the Sav­ior, King of all.

Refrain