Good Christians All, Awake!

A Carol For Christmas Morning

Words: John Mason Neale (1818- 1866)
Published for Advent, 1866, After His Death

Music: Rev. Thomas Helmore

Source: Mary Sackville Lawson, et al, eds., Collected Hymns, Sequences and Carols of John Mason Neale (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1914), p. 310.

See: Additional Christmas Carols & Hymns of John Mason Neale

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1. Good Christians all, awake !
Awake, and hear our tale !
Your midnight slumbers break !
The coming Monarch hail !
With angel-cohorts bring
Hosannas to your King.

2. A King—but not of earth—
So rich and yet so poor :
A Babe Whose promised birth
The Heavens shall make secure :
The Chieftain Who shall save
From death and from the grave.

3. O Royal Infant, first
To break the infernal spell.
Who by Thy death shalt burst
The banded power of hell,
O Lord of all that mourn,
O purest Virgin-born !

4. To Thee Who mak'st this night
More glorious than the day.
To Thee the Light of Light,
The God of gods, we pray.
O Jesu, Jesu mine,
Both make and keep us Thine. Amen.

Editor's Note:

The following text appeared in an advertisement in The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, Volume 13, December 1, 1867, p. 234:

Dr. Gauntlett's Christmas Carols. -- "Good Christians all awake," words by Dr. Neale. "Young and Old must raise the lay," words by Dr. Neale. "O come all ye faithful." Toned paper, music and words, 4to, 2d. each.: words, 8vo, 2s per 100. Reduction for quantities. The three Carols, post free, 6d., with List of Church Music from Church Music Press, 23 Colville-road, W., and of Joseph Masters, Bond-street.

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