We've Been Told a Joyful Thing

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We've been told a joyful thing

Translator (from French): John O'Connor
Tune: [We've been told a joyful thing]
Published in 1 hymnal

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. We’ve been told a joyful thing,
News for all the nations.
Angels have been heard to sing
Round the shepherd stations,
One intoned the Gloria,
Others Alleluia;
Peace to all things human;
War no more for true man.

2. Up and get you quickly there
Folk of field and village!
Over to that stable bare
Up beyond the tillage.
There you’ll find a Baby born
Old before His mother’s morn
Young with dewy splendor
Of parent stem so tender.

3. So we come to pay our vows:
Hail! God save thee, Mary!
Joseph, man of this poor house,
Fortune seems contrary.
Let us look on Christ the Lord,
That was sure the angel’s word.
Swathèd in a manger,
Welcome, Holy Stranger!

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Translator (from French): John O'Connor

O'Connor, John, was b. Dec. 5, 1870, at Clonmel, Ireland. After completing his theological studies in the English College at Rome, he was ordained priest 1895, in St. John Lateran, Rome; and is now (1906) priest in charge at Heckmondwike, Yorks. He contributed to the Arundel Hymns, 1902, a number of translations (see Index of Authors, &c), and the following original hymns:— 1. Ah, Lady of high heaven! B. V. M. 2. All the skies to-night sing o'er us. Christmas. 3. Father of all those far-scattered sheep of Christ. St. Patrick. 4. Hail! O new Jerusalem. Heaven. 5. Jesu! none is like to Thee. The Love of Jesus. 6. Jesu! the dying day hath left us lonely. Evening. 7. Joseph gentle, husband mine. Christmas. 8. Let… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	We've been told a joyful thing
Title:	We've Been Told a Joyful Thing
French Title:	On vint de nous aipoutha
Translator (from French):	John O'Connor
Source:	Evidently an old French carol from the Besançon region
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain