A Christmas Carmen

Words: John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-92), 1873

Music: Harold Darke, 1916; Sheet music available from Stainer & Bell, London ("Three Carols")
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“St. Denio (Joanna),” Welsh melody; from Canaidau y Cyssegr, by John Roberts, 1839
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“Cradle Song,” William J. Kirkpatrick, 1895
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1. Sound over all waters, reach out from all lands,
The chorus of voices, the clasping of hands;
Sing hymns that were sung by the stars of the morn,
Sing songs of the angels when Jesus was born --
With glad jubilations, bring hope to the nations
The dark night is ending and dawn has begun:
Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun,
All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as one!

2. Sing the bridal of nations! with chorals of love
Sing out the war-vulture and sing in the dove,
Till the hearts of the peoples keep time in accord
And the voice of the world is the voice of the Lord!
Clasp hands of the nations
In strong gratulations:
The dark night is ending and dawn has begun;
Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun,
All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as one!

3. Blow, bugles of battle, the marches of peace;
East, west, north, and south, let the strong quarrel cease;
Sing the song of great joy that the angels began,
Sing of glory to God and of good will to man.
Hark! joining in chorus, the heavens bend o'er us:
The dark night is ending and dawn has begun:
Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun,
All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as one!

The Cyberhymnal has a slightly different words for the Roberts and Kirkpatrick settings of Sound Over All Waters.

A third setting adds this additional final line of both verses: "The dark night is ending and dawn has begun."