Little Children, Can You Tell?

For Christmas

Authorship Unknown

MIDI / Noteworthy Composer

Source: John R. Sweney and John J. Hood, Goodly Pearls for the Sunday-School (Philadelphia: John J. Hood, 1875), p. 23.

1. Little children, can you tell?
Do you know the story well,
Ev'ry girl and ev'ry boy,
Why the angels sing for joy
On the Christmas morning.

2.¹ Yes, we know the story well;
Listen now, and hear us tell,
Ev'ry girl and ev'ry boy,
Why the angels sing for joy,
On the Christmas morning.

3. Shepherds sat upon the ground,
Fleecy flocks were scatter'd round,
When the² brightness fill'd the sky,
And a song³ was heard on high,
On the Christmas morning!

4. "Joy and peace," the angels sang,
Far the pleasant echoes rang,
"Peace on earth, to men good will!"
Hark! the angels sing it still
On the Christmas morning.

5. For a little Babe that day,
Christ, the Lord of angels, lay,⁴
Born on earth our Lord to be,
This the wond'ring angels see
On the Christmas morning.

6. Let us sing the angels' song.
And the pleasant sounds prolong:
This fair babe of Bethlehem
Children loves, and blesses them
On the Christmas morning.

7. "Peace" our little hearts shall fill,
"Peace on earth, to men good-will!"
Hear us sing the angels' song,
And the pleasant notes prolong,
On the Christmas morning.

An Alternate 7th verse:

Joy our little hearts shall fill,
Peace and love, and all good will;
This fair Babe of Bethlehem
Children loves, and blesses them
On the Christmas morning.

Source for this verse: The Sunday School Hymnal (Philadelphia: Heidelberg Press, 1900), Hymn #264, p.277.

Notes:

1. Verse 2 is from another source, now lost.

2. Or: [a].

3. Or: [voice].

4. Verse 5, Line 2: Cradled in a manger lay,

Sheet Music by J. J. Hood from John R. Sweney and John J. Hood, Goodly Pearls for the Sunday-School (Philadelphia: John J. Hood, 1875), p. 23.

Sheet Music from: G. S. Scofield, ed., Anniversary and Sabbath School Hymns: or, the child's Sunday school music book. Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, Complete (New York: G. S. Scofield, 1861), p.108. Copyright notice of 1858 by G. S. Scofield in New York.

Sheet Music from: The Standard Sunday School Hymnal (1888), #286, p. 180.

Sheet Music from: The Sunday School Hymnal (Philadelphia: Heidelberg Press, 1900), Hymn #264, p.277.

Note:

Other early versions of this hymn are found in:

• Hymnal for Primary Classes: a collection of hymns and tunes, recitations and exercises, being a manual for primary Sunday-schools (1896), #151, p.125.
• Crown of Gold: for Sunday schools, gospel services, revival meetings, Christian Endeavor societies, Epworth Leagues, etc. (1892), #70, p. 79.
• The American Sunday-School Hymn-Book (1860), #382, p.289.

There are two songs with similar titles:

• Little Children Can You Say (Charlotte Phillips, ed., The Shower of Pearls, A Collection of Poetry (London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co., et al.: 1855), pp. 15-16.)
• Little Children, Can You Say (from Charles Clayton, ed., Choice gatherings for Christian Children (London: J. H. Jackson, 1846), p. 135.)

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