Singing the Living Tradition ‎#244

244. 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 on the earth, to all good will,
from heaven the news we bring."
The world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.

2 Still through the cloven skies they come,
with peaceful wings unfurled;
and still their heavenly music floats
o'er all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hovering wing;
and ever o'er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.

3 But with the woes of war and strife
the world has suffered long;
beneath the angel-strain have rolled
two thousand years of wrong;
and we who fight the wars hear not
the love song which they bring.
O hush the noise of battle strife,
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 ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world give 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 Hamilton Sears, 1810-1876
• Meter: C.M.D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1993
• Topic: Jewish and Christian Teachings: Christmas; The Living Tradition

Tune Information

• Name: CAROL
• Composer: Richard Storrs Willis, 1819-1900
• Meter: C.M.D.
• Key: B♭ Major