The Hymnal for Boys and Girls ‎#34

34. 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 heav'n'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 heav'nly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on heavenly wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

3 And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way,
With painful steps and slow, -
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing:
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

4 For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold,
When with the ever-circling years,
Come round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: It came upon the midnight clear
• Title: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
• Author: Edmund H. Sears, 1810-1876
• Meter: C.M.D.
• Publication Date: 1935
• Topic: Christmas

Tune Information

• Name: ANGELS' CAROL
• Composer: Richard S. Willis
• Meter: C.M.D.
• Key: B♭ Major