One Night In Dark December

Words: Rev. G. Moultrie

Music: Rev. R. F. Smith
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Source: Rev. Richard R. Chope, Carols For Use In Church (London: William Clowes & Sons, Complete Edition, 1894), Carol #77

1. One night in dark December,
Ere dawn of Christmas Day,
The sky grew bright with glory,
Night's shadows were rolled away:
And over Bethlehem village
The sounds of sweet music ran,
As angels sang their carol,
"Good will from God to man."

2. "What mean you, angels, come tell me:
Why through the sky thus sing?"
"We welcome the new-born Monarch,
We welcome our Lord and King:
He comes to-night from His palace,
He comes from His sapphire throne,
To lay the pride of the mighty,
To rule in peace His own."

3. "I see, I see in a manger
A little baby lie,
But where is He, the Monarch,
Who is sung in the starry sky?
I see a village maiden,
She bends o'er the babe in prayer;
But the Lord of earth and heaven,
Where is He, angels, where?"

4. Then all the host of heaven
Bowed low with one accord,
Their bright wings veil their faces
As they worship their King and Lord;
The hymns of the choirs eternal
The radiant zenith fill,
"Peace, peace from God in the Highest,
On earth goodwill, goodwill."

Note:

Verse 2 is a dialogue between the shepherd (lines 1 and 2) and Angels (the balance of the verse). Verse 3 is sung by the shepherd.

Chope's Note:

Occasionally two crotchets must be sung for one minim of the tune, and two quavers for one crotchet at the beginning of a line.

Sheet Music from Chope

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