The Cyber Hymnal ‎#7142

7142. We've Been Told a Joyful Thing

1. We’ve been told a joyful thing,
News for all the nations.
Angels have been heard to sing
Round the shepherd stations,
One intoned the Gloria,
Others Alleluia;
Peace to all things human;
War no more for true man.

2. Up and get you quickly there
Folk of field and village!
Over to that stable bare
Up beyond the tillage.
There you’ll find a Baby born
Old before His mother’s morn
Young with dewy splendor
Of parent stem so tender.

3. So we come to pay our vows:
Hail! God save thee, Mary!
Joseph, man of this poor house,
Fortune seems contrary.
Let us look on Christ the Lord,
That was sure the angel’s word.
Swathèd in a manger,
Welcome, Holy Stranger!

Text Information

• First Line: We've been told a joyful thing
• Title: We've Been Told a Joyful Thing
• French Title: On vint de nous aipoutha
• Translator (from French): John O'Connor
• Language: English
• Source: Evidently an old French carol from the Besançon region
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: [We've been told a joyful thing]
• Incipit: 33115 53514 33213
• Key: G Major
• Source: Ev­i­dent­ly an old French car­ol from the Be­san­çon re­gion
• Copyright: Public Domaiin