Good tidings of great joy.
Luke 2:10
Words: E. E. Pitkin, in The Brilliant, by William T. Giffe (Indianapolis, Indiana: 1874), number 38.
Music: J. William Suffern (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know Pitkin’s full name, or where to get a good photo of her or Suffern (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
The Christmas bells are ringing, ringing, ringing,
On the air,
And Christmas thoughts are bringing, bringing, bringing,
Waves of prayer
Up to the great Eternal;
Up to the high arched dome,
Into the pastures vernal,
Laden with ever bloom.
The Christmas bells are ringing, ringing, ringing,
Songs of joy,
And children all are joining, joining, joining,
Sweet employ;
High are their voices reaching,
Blending in sweetest song,
Yes, to the Father soaring,
Borne by the air along.
Now all the world is singing, singing, singing,
The sweet lay,
And with their voices swelling, swelling, swelling,
Hail the day.
Hail to our blest Redeemer
Who bought us with His blood,
Jesus, our risen Savior,
Reigns with our Father, God.
