Scripture Verse

Christ is risen from the dead…the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20–21

Introduction

Words: Al­ex­ce­nah Tho­mas, in Sow­ing and Reap­ing, by John H. Kurz­en­kna­be (Har­ris­burg, Penn­syl­van­ia: J. H. Kurz­en­kna­be & Sons, 1889), num­ber 96.

Music: George J. Kurz­en­kna­be (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Tho­mas (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
George J. Kurzenknabe
(1866–1926)

Lyrics

illustration
Old Russian Easter Postcard
Wikimedia Commons

Easter bells are sweet­ly peal­ing,
Easter flow­ers are bloom­ing fair;
Easter breez­es soft­ly steal­ing,
Easter mu­sic ev­ery­where.

Refrain

Christ is ris­en, hal­le­lu­jah!
Christ is ris­en, hal­le­lu­jah!
Conqueror and Sav­ior, He—
Christ hath tri­umphed glo­ri­ous­ly.
Easter bells are sweet­ly peal­ing,
Easter mu­sic ev­ery­where.

Brightly, re­sur­rect­ion’s beau­ty
Beams ov­er all the world to­day;
Vanquished are the pow­ers of dark­ness,
Night and gloom are turned to day.

Refrain

Christian hearts are now re­joic­ing
On this bless­èd day of days.
Peal on peal, from hap­py voic­es,
Fills the house of God with praise.

Refrain