Voices Together ‎#248

248. It Came upon a Midnight Clear

1 It came upon a midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to all
from heaven’s gracious King.”
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 heav’nly music floats
o’er all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hov’ring wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.

3 Yet with the woes of sin and strife,
the world has suffered long;
beneath the heav’nly hymn have rolled
two thousand years of wrong,
and warring humankind hears not
the tidings which they bring.
O hush the noise and cease your strife
and hear the angels sing.

4 And you, beneath life's crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow:
Look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing.

5 For lo, the days are hast’ning 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 all the world sends back the song
which now the angels sing.

Text Information

• First Line: It came upon a midnight clear
• Title: It Came upon a Midnight Clear
• Author: Edmund H. Sears
• Meter: CMD
• Publication Date: 2020
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:8-20
• Topic: Jesus Christ: Advent of; Jesus Christ: Second Coming of; Peace: Conflict and War; Reign of Christ
• Source: Christian Register, 1849, alt.

Tune Information

• Name: CAROL
• Composer: Richard S. Willis
• Meter: CMD
• Key: B♭ Major
• Source: Church Carols and Choir Studies, 1850