On the Eastern plain the flocks are sleeping,
Are sweetly sleeping, are sweetly sleeping;
O'er them faithful shepherds watch are keeping,
While sweetest music fills the air.
Chorus:
The bells are ringing, sweetly ringing,
The mercy, mercy bells, the Christmas bells;
The bells are ringing, sweetly ringing,
The mercy bells, the Christmas bells.
2 Wondrous is the news their tones are telling,
Are softly telling, are softly telling;
Round the waiting earth in chorus swelling,
They tell of Jesus, born this day. [Chorus]
3 Still the message round the earth is ringing,
Is sweetly ringing, is sweetly ringing;
Nations to the King are tribute bringing,
To Christ, the Saviour, King of all. [Chorus]
Source: The Voice of Praise: a compilation of the very best sacred songs for use in Sunday Schools and praise services #206
Charles Austin Miles USA 1868-1946. Born at Lakehurst, NJ, he attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and the University of PA. He became a pharmacist. He married Bertha H Haagen, and they had two sons: Charles and Russell. In 1892 he abandoned his pharmacy career and began writing gospel songs. At first he furnished compositions to the Hall-Mack Publishing Company, but soon became editor and manager, where he worked for 37 years. He felt he was serving God better in the gospel song writing business, than as a pharmacist. He published the following song books: “New songs of the gospel” (1900), “The service of praise” (1900), “The voice of praise” (1904), “The tribute of song” (1904), “New songs of the gospel… Go to person page >
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