I sing the birth was born tonight

A Hymn On the Nativity Of My Saviour
Alternate Title: Ben Jonson's Carol

Version 1
Compare: I Sing the Birth Was Born Tonight - Version 2
I Sing The Birth Was Born To-Night (Sandys and Woodward)

Words: Ben Jonson (1573-1637), circa 1600
See also William Sandys with the following attribution: From Ben Jonson (Underwoods) ed. 1756, London, vol. vi. pp. 340-1.

Music: George C. Martin
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Sir Arthur Sullivan also created a musical setting for this hymn. For more information about his contributions to Christmas music, see A Sullivan Christmas, which includes another MIDI, plus a printable score, of this hymn.

1. I sing the birth was born tonight,
The Author both of life and light:
The angels so did sound it,
The angels so did sound it, so did sound it;
The like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light and were afraid,
Yet searched, and true they found it,
Yet searched, and true they found it,
True they found it, and true they found it.

2. The Son of God, the eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
And freed the world from danger,
And freed the world from danger, freed from danger,
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word which heaven and earth did make,
Was now laid in a manger,
Was now laid in a manger
In a manger, laid in a manger.

3. What comfort do we by Him win,
Who made Himself the price of sin,
To make us heirs of glory!
To make us heirs of glory, heirs of glory!
To see this Babe, all innocence,
A Martyrs born in our defense--
Can man forget the story,
Can man forget,
Can man forget the story,
Forget the story?

Can man forget the story?

Sheet Music by George C. Martin from Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), Carol #534

Sheet Music by George C. Martin from Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer, Christmas Carols New and Old, Third Series (London: Novello, Ewer & Co., ca 1878), Carol #55.
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF