Scripture Verse

A multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13–14

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous Cor­nish trans­la­tion from the French Les Anges dans Nos Cam­pag­nes. Adap­ted by Ri­chard R. Chope in his Ca­rols, 1875.

Music: Grand Is­land Ca­rols Old and Ca­rols New, by Charles L. Hut­chins (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Par­ish Choir, 1916), num­ber 7 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

Bright an­gel hosts are heard on high
All sweet­ly sing­ing o’er the plains;
While mount­ains ec­ho in re­ply
The bur­den of their joy­ous strains.

Say, shep­herds, why this ju­bi­lee,
What doth your rap­tur­ous mirth pro­long?
Say, say what may the tid­ings be
Which still in­spire that heav’n­ly song?

Come, come to Beth­le­hem, come and see
The Child whose birth the an­gels sing;
Come, come, adore on bend­ed knee
The in­fant Christ, the new­born King!

See, there with­in a man­ger laid
Jesus, the Lord of Heav’n and earth!
See, saints and an­gels lend their aid
To ce­le­brate the Sav­ior’s birth!