O Sing A Song of Bethlehem

Words: Rev. Louis Fitzgerald Benson, January 13, 1899.

Music: "Kingsfold," English melody; arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

1. O sing a song of Bethlehem,
    Of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them
    From angels in the air:
The light that shone on Bethlehem
    Fills all the world to-day;
Of Jesus’ birth and peace on earth
    The angels sing alway.

2. O sing a song of Nazareth,
    Of sunny days of joy,
O sing of fragrant flowers’ breath,
    And of the sinless Boy:
For now the flowers of Nazareth
    In every heart may grow;
Now spreads the fame of His dear Name
    On all the winds that blow.

3. O sing a song of Galilee,
    Of lake and woods and hill,
Of Him who walked upon the sea
    And bade its waves he still:
For though, like waves on Galilee,
    Dark seas of trouble roll,
When faith has heard the Master’s word,
    Falls peace upon the soul.

4. O sing a song of Calvary,
    Its glory and dismay;
Of Him who hung upon the tree
    And took our sins away:
For He who died on Calvary
    Is risen from the grave,
And Christ our Lord, by Heaven adored,
    Is mighty now to save.

Sheet Music from Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), Carol # 600
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Sheet Music Carmina Christi by U.C. Burnap, Carmina Christi, 1899, from Louis F. Benson, Hymns Original And Translated (Philadelphia: The Plimpton Press, 1925)
Meter: CMD
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Note:

In other versions, the word “hymn” occurs instead of “song” in the first line of each of the four verses. Source: The Book of Common Praise, Being The Hymn Book Of The Anglican Church of Canada. Toronto: Oxford University Press, No Date.

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