Scripture Verse

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Introduction

Words: R. Ed­ward Ox­en­ford, in Ca­rols Old and Ca­rols New, by Charles L. Hut­chins (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Par­ish Choir, 1916), num­ber 466.

Music: George E. Ol­iv­er (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
George E. Oliver (1856–1941)

Lyrics

Once again the old­en sto­ry:
It is sweet for all to sing;
How, from realms of won­drous glo­ry,
Comes our Sav­ior and our king!
Every heart this day re­joic­es,
Beating ’midst the Chris­tian throng;
Countless thou­sands raise their voic­es,
And re­peat the joy­ous song:

Refrain

Bright and joy­qful is the morn,
For to us a child is born;
From the high­est realms of Hea­ven
Unto us a son is giv­en!

Scattered o’er the dist­ant na­tions
Many are, we love today;
Yet the shep­herds’ re­ve­lations
Rest with them so far away!
Once with us, to Je­sus cling­ing,
They will thank­ful praise pro­long,
Send their voic­es up­ward ring­ing,
As they join the glad­some song:

Refrain