Scripture Verse

Good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous, in Glo­ri­ous Things in Sac­red Song, ed­it­ed by Tul­li­us C. O’Kane (De­la­ware, Ohio: T. C. O’Kane, 1886), num­ber 15. The first two vers­es, with­out a re­frain, al­so ap­peared in The La­dies’ Re­po­si­to­ry, ed­it­ed by I. W. Wi­ley (New York & Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: Carl­ton and La­na­han & Hitch­cock and Wal­den, Vol­ume 32, Ja­nu­ary–June, 1872), page 447.

Music: Ta’izz Tho­mas C. Neal (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know the ly­ri­cist’s name, or where to get a good pho­to of him or Neal (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

The bells of time ring out the chime,
Of mer­ry, mer­ry greet­ing,
And o’er the earth, in joy­ous mirth,
All hearts with love are beat­ing.

Refrain

Joyful be, ’tis Christ­mas time!
Merry, mer­ry, Christ­mas time!
Joyful be, ’tis Christ­mas time!
Merry, mer­ry, mer­ry Christ­mas time!

In Hea­ven far, the bless­èd star
Of Beth­le­hem shines o’er us;
And once again, Good will to men!
Floats from the an­gel chor­us.

Refrain

The earth and air all seemed to share
The old­en Christ­mas glo­ry;
And now once more, glad hearts tell o’er
Christ’s sweet and won­drous sto­ry.

Refrain

So let us raise to Him our praise,
Whose love still ho­vers o’er us;
And sing again, Good will to men!
With Hea­ven’s an­gel chor­us.

Refrain