Children's Hymnal ‎#171

171. It Came upon the Midnight Clear

1 It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold;
"Peace to the earth, good will to men,
From heaven's all-gracious King!"
The earth in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

2 Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still celestial music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lonely plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

3 O ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look up, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

4 For lo, the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years,
Comes round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its final splendors fling,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing!

Text Information

• First Line: It came upon the midnight clear
• Title: It Came upon the Midnight Clear
• Author: Edmund H. Sears
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1957
• Topic: Songs Suitable for Juniors; Jesus' Birth; Christmas

Tune Information

• Name: [It came upon the midnight clear]
• Composer: Richard S. Willis
• Key: B♭ Major