Scripture Verse

Good tidings of great joy. Luke 2:10

Introduction

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),

Lyrics

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.

illustration