O the song that ech­oed from star­ry spheres,
And hushed the won­der­ing shep­herds’ fears,
Is still the same thro’ the chang­ing years—
It ne­ver shall pass away!

Refrain

It ne­ver shall pass away,
While shin­eth the sun’s bright ray:
Earth paus­es each year that sto­ry to hear—
It ne­ver shall pass away!

Tho’ the ag­es pass with a so­lemn tread,
Tho’ pomp and pride of the past is dead,
Still lives the song of that night long fled—
It ne­ver shall pass away!

Refrain

Unto ev­ery na­tion, in ev­ery clime,
That song shall ring in glad hymn and chime;
Its joy shall live thro’ the realms of time—
It ne­ver shall pass away!

Refrain