RitualSong ‎#498

498. 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 all
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 hov'ring wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

3 Yet with the woes of sin and strife,
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the heav'nly hymn have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And warring humankind hears not
The tidings which they bring;
O hush the noise and cease your strife
And hear the angels sing.

4 For, lo, the days are hast'ning on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And all the world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Text Information

• First Line: It came upon the midnight clear
• Title: It Came upon the Midnight Clear
• Author: Edmund H. Sears, 1810-1876 (alt.)
• Meter: CMD
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1996
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:10-11
• Topic: Angels; Christmas; Justice; Peace; Song

Tune Information

• Name: CAROL
• Composer: Richard S. Willis
• Meter: CMD
• Key: B♭ Major