Scripture Verse

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. 1 Chronicles 16:31

Introduction

Words: Flo­ra Kirk­land, in Sun­day School Hymns No. 1, by Is­aac H. Me­re­dith, Grant C. Tul­lar & Jo­seph W. Ler­man (New York: Tul­lar-Me­re­dith, 1903), num­ber 252.

Music: C. Har­old Low­den (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
Carl H. Lowden (1883–1963)

Lyrics

Sing out your glad­some car­ols,
Set all the ech­oes ring­ing!
Welcome the joy­ous sea­son,
Welcome it now with sing­ing.
Light in the midst of dark­ness,
Coming from realms of day;
Hail to the King of Glo­ry,
’Neath the star He lay!

Refrain

Welcome! wel­come!
Joyous Christ­mas sea­son!
All thy glad­ness hath a bless­èd rea­son.
Welcome! wel­come!
Joyous Christ­mas sea­son!
Rich with bless­ings from above!

Up from the low­ly man­ger,
Tell out the won­drous sto­ry!
Jesus who brought sal­va­tion,
Dwells in His home in glo­ry.
Looks with His love un­ceas­ing,
Down to the Christ­mas earth;
O let Him see in­creas­ing,
Faith in His great worth!

Refrain

Memory so sweet and pre­cious,
Christ in a man­ger dwell­ing!
Born in a low­ly sta­ble,
Coming from light ex­cell­ing!
Seeking that low­est sta­tion,
Henceforth that all might know,
How He who brought sal­va­tion,
Came God’s love to show.

Refrain