The Cyber Hymnal ‎#16436

16436. Christmas Day

1 Under cold De­cem­ber skies,
Verdant na­ture frost­bound lies,
Lending nei­ther charm nor grace
To this fes­tive, hap­py place.
Tell me, then, O what is this—
Charms the sens­es, lights the face?
Why are all these pret­ty toys
Ready for the girls and boys?

2 Nature’s bonds of ice and snow
Melt be­neath the sun’s warm glow—
Long ago, and far away,
Christ was born on Christ­mas day.
Wise men guid­ed by His star,
Sought the Sav­ior from afar.
Precious of­fer­ings brought to Him,
To the long-ex­pect­ed King.

Refrain:
On this mer­ry, mer­ry Christ­mas day,
We come with hearts so light and gay;
Merry, mer­ry Christ­mas we will sing,
And grate­ful­ly our off’­rings bring.
Happy hearts we bring!
Cheerful songs we sing!
And mer­ri­ly the church bells ring;
Happy hearts we bring!
Cheerful songs we sing!
And mer­ri­ly the church bells ring.

3 Why do you so ve­ry long
Keep His birt­hday when He’s gone?
Give to oth­ers what you bring
On the birth­day of a king?
Other birth­days die with men,
Why so long re­mem­ber Him?
Why the lone­some ev­er­green
Bring to deck the Christ­mas scene?

4 Promised long, God’s on­ly Son
Blessing brought to ev­ery one;
May we long remember Him
In the off’rings that we bring.
He is with us, though away,
Making glad the Christ­mas day.
In this change­less ev­er­green
His un­chang­ing love is seen. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: Under cold De­cem­ber skies
• Title: Christmas Day
• Author: Mrs. M. L. Seymour
• Refrain First Line: On this mer­ry, mer­ry Christ­mas day
• Language: English
• Source: Wreath of Praise, by Asa Hull (Philadelphia: Daniel W. Knowles, 1879)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: [Under cold De­cem­ber skies]
• Composer: Asa Hull
• Key: C Major
• Copyright: Public Domain