DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH
Ding dong! Merrily on high
In heaven the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! Verily the sky
Is riven with angels singing
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!
E'en so here below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And io io io,
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!
Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers,
May you beautifully rhyme
Your eve time song ye singers.
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis!
THE FIRST NOWELL
The first Noel, the Angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep.
On a cold winter's night that was so deep;
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star,
Shining in the East, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave light,
And so i continued both day and night;
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star,
Three wise men came from country afar;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went;
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!
This star drew nigh to the northwest;
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay;
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!
Then enter'd in those wise men three,
Full rev'rently upon their knee,
And offer'd there in his presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the King of Israel!
WE THREE KINGS
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing the gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy Perfect Light.
Born a king on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy Perfect Light.
Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Pray'r and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him, God most High
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy Perfect Light.
Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes of life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy Perfect Light.
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice,
Alleluia, Alleluia;
Earth to heav'n replies
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy Perfect Light.
GOOD KING WENCESLAS
Good King Wenceslas look'd out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel.
MEN
Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
WOMEN
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
MEN
"Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
WOMEN
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather.
WOMEN
"Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer"
MEN
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."
ALL
In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
HOLLY AND THE IVY
Th holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a blossom
As white as any flow'r
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS
While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.
"Fear not" he said, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind;
'Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind."
To you in David's Town this day
Is born pf David's line
The saviour who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign:
"The heavenly Babe You there shall find
To human view displayed,
And meanly wrapped in swathing bands
And in a manger laid."
Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God on high,
Who thus addressed their song:
'All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth from heav'n to men
Begin and never cease!"
DECK THE HALLS
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
'Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
See the blazing Yule before us, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Strike the harp and join the chorus, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
While I tell of Yuletide treasure, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Fast away the old year passes, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Sing we joyous, all together, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Heedless of the wind and weather, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
O Come all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
God of God,
Light of Light,
Lo, He abhors not the Virgin's womb,
Very God, begotten not created;
O come, let us adhore Him,
O come, let us adhore Him,
O come, let us adhore Him,
Christ the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exhultation,
Sing all ye citizens of Heaven above;
'Glory to God
In the Highest';
O come, let us adhore Him,
O come, let us adhore Him,
O come, let us adhore Him,
Christ the Lord.
SILENT NIGHT
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born.
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
HARK THE HERALD ANGELS
Hark the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled;
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With th' angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Christ by the highest heaven adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come,
Off-spring of the Virgin's womb;
Veiled in flesh the God-head see,
Hail th' incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings;
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born the man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.