Whence comes this rush of wings afar,
Following straight the No­ël star?
Birds from the woods in won­drous flight,
Bethlehem seek this ho­ly night.

Tell us, ye birds, why come ye here,
Into this sta­ble, poor and drear?
Hastening we seek the new­born King,
And all our sweet­est mu­sic bring.

Hark how the green­finch bears his part,
Philomel, too, with ten­der heart,
Chants from her leafy dark re­treat,
Re, mi, fa, sol, in ac­cents sweet.

Angels and shep­herds, birds of the sky,
Come where the Son of God doth lie;
Christ on the earth with man doth dwell,
Join in the shout, No­ël, No­ël!