Scripture Verse

There were…shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8

Introduction

Words: Flo­ra Kirk­land, in Sun­day School Hymns No. 1, by Is­aac H. Me­re­dith & Grant C. Tul­lar (New York: Tul­lar-Me­re­dith, 1903), num­bers 134 & 263.

Music: Will­iam A. Post (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Night had fall­en dark­ly
Over Ju­dea’s hill;
Shepherds watched in si­lence,
All the flocks were still;
Light dis­pelled the dark­ness,
Light, then day more fair,
Lo! a migh­ty an­gel,
Stood in glo­ry there.

Refrain

Long ago, long ago,
Came that an­gel bright,
Fear ye not! Fear ye not!
Rang across the night.
Long ago, long ago,
Over a bed of hay,
Angels fair, in the air,
Watched where Je­sus lay.

Shepherds of Ju­dea,
Watching flocks by night;
Patient, gen­tle watch­ers
Trembled at the light,
Trembled when the glo­ry
O’er the hill­side spread,
Trembled till the an­gel
Fear not, sweet­ly said.

Refrain

Hosts of shin­ing an­gels
Joined the her­ald bright;
Legions from the glo­ry,
Came that won­drous night—
Came with al­le­lu­ias,
For a Sav­ior born;
Came to tell the wea­ry
Of re­demp­tion’s morn.

Refrain