Hymns and Carols for Nativity
10
From the Service
Troparion...............................................................
................2Kontakion..............................................
................................2Magnification..........................
...............................................2Magnification in
Slavonic......................................................2Exapostil
arion...................................................................
.....2Ode
IX......................................................................
.............2
English Carols?religious
Angels We Have Heard on
High...........................................3Away in a
Manger..................................................................
3Bring a Torch, Jeannette,
Isabella.........................................4Do You Hear What I
Hear? ..................................................4The First
Noel....................................................................
....5God Rest You Merry
Gentlemen...........................................6Good Christian men,
rejoice! ................................................6Good King
Wenceslas............................................................7Ha
rk! The Herald Angels
Sing..............................................7The Huron Carol
('Twas In The Moon of Winter Time)......8I Saw Three
Ships..................................................................8
It Came Upon The Midnight
Clear.......................................8Joy to the
World...................................................................
..9Little Drummer
Boy...............................................................9Lo,
How A Rose E'er
Blooming............................................10March of the Three
Kings......................................................10Oh Come,
All Ye Faithful......................................................10O
Come, O Come, Emmanuel..............................................11O
Holy
Night...................................................................
......11O Little Town of
Bethlehem..................................................12Pat-a-Pan..
........................................................................
......12Silent
Night...................................................................
.........13We Three Kings of Orient
Are...............................................13What Child Is This?
..............................................................14
English Carols?secular
Dec k the
Halls...................................................................
...14Here We Come
A-Wassailing................................................15O
Christmas
Tree...................................................................1
5
From the Service
Troparion of the Feast, in Tone IV:
Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, / hath shone forth the light of
knowledge upon the world; / for therein those who worship the stars /
have been taught by a star / to worship Thee, the Son of righteousness,
/ and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on high. // O Lord, glory be to
Thee.
Kontakion of the Feast, in Tone III:
Today the Virgin giveth birth / to the Transcendent One, / and the earth
offereth a cave / to the unapproachable One. / Angels with shepherds
give glory; / the Magi journey with the star. / For our sakes a young
Child is born, // Who is preeternal God!
The magnification:
We magnify Thee, / O Christ, the Giver of life, / Who for our sake now
art born in the flesh / of the unwedded // and most pure Virgin Mary.
The magnification, in Slavonic:
Aaee/aai Oy, / aeeaiaeaa/a O?enoa, / ianu ?aaee iuia ieioeth
?iaeaeoaainy / iou aaciaaanoiuy // e i?a/enoay aeaau ia?ee.
The exapostilarion:
From on high our Savior, / the Dayspring of the East, / hath visited us,
/ and we who are in darkness and shadow have truly found Him; / for the
Lord hath been born // of the Virgin.
The Refrain and irmos of Ode IX of the canon:
Refrain: Magnify, O my soul, / the all-pure Virgin Theotokos, // who is
more honorable and more glorious than the armies on high!
Irmos: A strange and most glorious mystery do I behold: / the cave is
heaven; / the Virgin, the throne of the cherubim; / the manger, the
place wherein lay Christ God, / Whom nothing can contain, // Whom
praising, we magnify.
English Carols
Angels We Have Heard on High
1. Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o-er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous songs prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav-nly song? Refrain 3. Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the new-born King. Refrain
4. See him in a manger laid
Whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While we raise our hearts in love. Refrain
Away in a Manger
1. Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
2. The cattle are lowing, the poor baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.
I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky,
And stay by my cradle -til morning is nigh. 3. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I
ask thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care.
And take them to heaven to live with thee there.
Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
1. Bring a torch, Jeannette, Isabella,
Bring a torch, come swiftly and run.
Christ is born, tell the folk of the village,
Jesus is sleeping in His cradle
Ah, ah, beautiful is the Mother;
Ah, ah, beautiful is her Son.
1. Bring a torch, Jeannette, Isabella,
Lift it high o-er the crib in the hay.
Lo, -tis Jesus, kind neighbors of Bethlehem,
Son of the Virgin softly crooning.
Lo, how stars shine so bright above Him,
Lo, how sweet sings the angel choir. 2. Hasten now, good folk of the
village,
Hasten now, the Christ-Child to see.
You will find him asleep in the manger,
Quietly come and whisper softly.
Hush, hush, peacefully now He slumbers,
Hush, hush, peacefully now He sleeps.
2. Softly now, we must not disturb Him,
Make no sound, let Him slumber in peace.
We must gently step, kneel and adore Him,
While wise men greet the Holy Infant.
Lo, how stars shine so bright above Him,
Lo, how sweet sings the angel choir.
Do You Hear What I Hear?
1. Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite."
2. Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
"Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea,
With a voice as big as the sea." 3. Said the shepherd boy to the mighty
king,
"Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold--
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold."
4. Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night,
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light."
The First Noel
1. The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
2. They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night. Refrain
3. And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a king was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went. Refrain
4. This star drew nigh to the northwest,
O'er Bethlehem it took it rest,
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay. Refrain
5. Then entered in those wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in his presence
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. Refrain
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen
1. God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day,
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray;
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
2. From God our heavenly Father
The blessed angel came.
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name: Refrain3. The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding,
In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway
This blessed babe to find: Refrain
4. But when to Bethlehem they came,
Whereat this infant lay
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray: Refrain
5. Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface: RefrainGood Christian Men, Rejoice
1. Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! News! Jesus Christ is born today!
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now;
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
2. Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath ope'd the heav'nly door,
And man is blessed ever more;
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this! 3. Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye need mot fear the grave:
Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all,
To gain His everlasting hall;
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!Good King Wenceslas
1. Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shown the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gathering winter fuel.
2. ?Hither, page, and stand by me.
If thou know it telling:
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?¦
?Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes fountain.¦
3. ?Bring me flesh, and bring me wine.
Bring me pine logs hither.
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear them thither.¦
Page and monarch, forth they went,
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather. 4. ?Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger.
Fails my heart, I know not how.
I can go no longer.¦
?Mark my footsteps my good page,
Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.¦
5. In his master's step he trod,
Where the snow lay dented.
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
1. Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King! 2. Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel! RefrainThe Huron Carol ('Twas In The Moon of Winter
Time)
1. 'Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim and wondering hunters heard the
hymn,
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.
2. Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;
A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round
But as the hunter braves drew nigh the angel song rang loud and high:
Refrain3. The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Refrain
4. Ye children of the forest free, ye sons of Manitou
The holy Child of earth and heav-n is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty peace and joy.
Refrain
I Saw Three Ships
1. I saw three ships come sailing by
on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day.
I saw three ships come sailing by
on Christmas Day in the morning.
2. And what was in those ships all three ...
3. The virgin Mary and Christ were there ...
4. Pray, whither sailed those ships all three ...
5. O they sailed into Bethlehem ...
6. And all the bells on earth did ring ...
7. And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing ...
8. And all the souls on earth shall sing ...
9. Then let us all rejoice again ...
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, good will to men,
from heaven's all-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 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.Joy to the World
1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
2. Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. 3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessing flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of His love.
Little Drummer Boy
1. Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A newborn King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
2. Baby Jesus, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum? 3. Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
1. Lo, how a rose e-er blooming
from tender stem hath sprung!
From Jesse-s lineage coming
As men of old have sung.
It came a floweret bright,
Amid the cold of winter
When half spent was the night2. Isaiah -twas foretold it
The rose I have in mind
With Mary we behold it
The Virgin mother kind
To show God-s love aright
She bore to us a Saviour
When half spent was the night
March of the Three Kings
On the march we saw three monarchs proud,
The fabled wise men with their trappings gay and brilliant;
Marching on the road to Bethlehem,
They bore rich gifts to greet the Holy Child.
The din of drums at the dawn-s first beam
Proclaimed the pow-r of the sages from the eastern land,
The blare of trumps and the sound of fifes
Announced their coming in the cool gray dawn.
O Come, All Ye Faithful
1. O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
2. Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God
In the highest; Refrain 3. Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing; Refrain
1. Adeste Fideles
Laeti triumphantes
Venite, venite in Bethlehem;
Natum videte
Regem angelorum.
Venite adoremus (3x)
Dominum.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
1. O Come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel
2. O come, thou rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of hell thy people save
And give them vict'ry o'er the grave.
Refrain
3. O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death-s dark shadows put to flight.
Refrain4. O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home
Make safe the way that leads on high
And close the path to misery.
Refrain
5. O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to thy tribes, on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Refrain
O Holy Night
1. O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees,
O hear the angel voices,
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born.
O night divine, Oh night divine! 2. Led by the light of Faith serenely
beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need,
He guardeth us from danger.
Behold your King!
Before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before Him bend!
O Little Town of Bethlehem
1. O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to-night.
2. For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth. 3. How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
4. O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
Pat-a-Pan
Willie, take your little drum,
Robin, bring your fife, and come,
And be merry while you play.
Turelurelu. Patapatapan.
Come be merry while you play,
On this joyous Christmas day.
Silent Night
1. Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
2. Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavely hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Saviour, is born!
Christ the Saviour, is born! 3. Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
1. Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht!
Alles schlaeft, einsam wacht
nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
schlaf in himmlischer Ruh',
schlaf in himmlischer Ruh'.
We Three Kings of Orient Are
1. We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect Light.
2. Born a king on Bethlehem's plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign. Refrain3. Frankincense to offer have I.
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high. Refrain
4. Myrrh is mine: Its bitter perfume
Breaths a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Refrain
5. Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies. Refrain
What Child is This
1. What child is this, who laid to rest
on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The babe, the Son of Mary
2. Why lies he in such mean estate
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners
hear the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
the Cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,
The babe, the Son of Mary. 3. So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh
come, peasant, King, to own him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
let loving hearts enthrone Him
Raise, raise the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The babe, the Son of Mary.
English Carols?secular
Deck The Halls
1. Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol,
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
2. See the blazing Yule before us.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure.
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la3. Fast away the old year passes.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Here We Come A-Wassailing
1. Here we come a-wassailing
Among the leaves so green;
Here we come a-wand'ring
So fair to be seen.
Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail too;
And God bless you and send you a happy New Year,
And God send you a happy New Year. 2. We are not daily beggars
That beg from door to door;
But we are neighbors' children,
Whom you have seen before.
Refrain
3. Good master and mistress,
As you sit by the fire,
Pray think of us poor children
Who wander in the mire.
Refrain
O Christmas Tree
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
thy leaves are so unchanging.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
thy leaves are so unchanging.
Not only green when summer's here,
but also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
thy leaves are so unchanging.O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blaetter!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blaetter!
Du gruenst nicht nur zur Sommerszeit,
nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blaetter!