Angels We Have Heard on High
Lyrics

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Refrain

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Refrain

NOTES: Les Anges dans nos campagnes [Angels in our countryside] was its original name when it was created in Languedoc, France. Bishop James Chadwick translated it into English somewhere around 1862 when it was published in Holy Family Hymns. It is sung to the tune, Gloria.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo translates to Glory to God in the highest.

There are alternate lyrics to this song. The first two verses are changed.

Angels we have heard on high,
Singing sweetly through the night.
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their brave delight.

Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear?

Angels We Have Heard on High
YouTube Video

This carol is one of, if not the, oldest Christmas carols in English. It was said to be one of the Christmas carols sung to the military in the fifteenth century. It was published on a broadsheet in around 1760 as a “New Christmas carol” and in a book called “New carols for Christmas” which suggests that it may be newer than the fifteenth century, but that is up for debate as it may mean that it gained notice in those years.

It was also published in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern in 1833.

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Lyrics

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

“Fear not then,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

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
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

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 other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
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