'Tis Christmas Day

Top Media Text Author Text Info Tune Page Scans Instances

The bells are sweetly chiming

Author: J. W. Lerman
Tune: [The bells are sweetly chiming]
Published in 2 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. The bells are sweetly chiming,
Their music fills the air;
What message do they bring us
Upon this morning fair?
’Tis Christmas day! the glad bells say,

Refrain
A Savior now is born,
By God’s great love sent from above
To cheer the world forlorn.
O wondrous birth! let all the earth
Receive the newborn King;
Oh, let us now with sacred vow
Our loyal tribute bring.

2. What mean these gifts abundant
That on this day we see?
For surely they mean something;
What may their import be?
’Tis Christmas day! these tokens say, [Refrain]

3. And why these smiling faces
Around the pretty tree?
What mean these joyous carols?
Pray tell us if you please.
’Tis Christmas day! these things all say, [Refrain]

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #6775

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: J. W. Lerman

Born: December 23, 1865, London (possibly Bethnal Green), England. Died: October 24, 1935, Brooklyn, New York. Lerman emigrated to America as a child (he does not appear in the 1871 British census), and was a member of the Olivet Memorial Church in New York City. He played the organ there (1880-1908), and later at the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, Borough Park Christian Church, and Fourth Avenue Methodist Church, all in Brooklyn. He wrote a considerable amount of church and Sunday School music, and served as musical editor for the Tullar-Meredith Company of New York City, and the Theodore Pressure Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sources-- Hughes, p. 472 Reynolds, p. 336 --www.hymntime.com/tch Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	The bells are sweetly chiming
Title:	'Tis Christmas Day
Author:	J. W. Lerman
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	'Tis Christmas day, the glad bells say
Copyright:	Public Domain