The Cyber Hymnal ‎#6069

6069. Silently o'er Bethlehem

1 Silently, silently o’er Bethlehem,
Silently come zephyrs from the sea, the sea;
Gently, like perfumed, perfumed breath;
Gently, like perfumed, perfumed breath,
Or mystery, sweet mystery.
Silently, silently, Zephyrs from the sea;
Silently, silently, O sweet mystery.

2 Silently, silently o’er Bethlehem,
Silently the heavens smile above, above;
And all the shining stars beam down,
And all the shining stars beam down,
Like watching eyes, like eyes of love.
Silently, silently, smile ye heav’ns above;
Silently, silently, watch, O eyes of love!

3 Silently, silently o’er Bethlehem,
Silently, from waiting courts on high, on high,
Bright angel choirs with tunèd lyres,
Bright angel choirs with tunèd lyres,
In readiness from Heav’n draw nigh.
Silently, silently, wait ye courts on high;
Silently, silently, come ye angels nigh.

4 Silently, silently o’er Bethlehem,
Silently from Heaven, pure and undefiled,
All meekly now doth enter in,
All meekly now doth enter in,
The Spirit of the holy Child.
Silently, silently, meek and undefiled;
Silently, silently, come, O heav’nly Child!

Text Information

• First Line: Silently, silently o'er Bethlehem
• Title: Silently o'er Bethlehem
• Author: John W. Wayland (1916)
• Language: English
• Source: Life Songs, edited by Samuel F. Coffman & John D. Brunk (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Mennonite Publishing House, 1916), number 213
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: [Silently, silently o'er Bethlehem]
• Composer: John D. Brunk
• Incipit: 54531 23343 45236
• Key: F Major
• Copyright: Public Domain