The Cyber Hymnal ‎#14216

14216. A Christmas Hymn

1 The first time that the skies grew bright,
When Heaven lay open wide,
And angels gleamed adown the night
Of one still countryside;

2 ’Twas when the almighty Heir of all
Came forth, a helpless child,
Amid the darkness of a stall,
And through our nature smiled.

3 Far down in Being, but forgot
By none who watched afar.
Above the lowly, hidden spot
Was buoyed one floating star.

4 Then angels, up the heights of sky,
Flashed glory with their shout,
And o’er the wide earth sleeping nigh,
Fell words of peace about.

Text Information

• First Line: The first time that the skies grew bright
• Title: A Christmas Hymn
• Author: Robert T. S. Lowell
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Source: The Poems of Robert Lowell (Boston: E. P. Dutton, 1864
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Alternate tunes: BINGHAM by Anonymous, BISHOPTHORPE by Jeremiah Clarke, BOARDMAN by Charles Jeffreys or L. Devereux, BRISTOL by Edward Hodges

Tune Information

• Name: BELMONT
• Meter: CM
• Key: G Major or modal
• Source: Sacred Melodies by William Gardiner, 1812
• Copyright: Public Domain