The Saviour's Birth
For Christmas
Words and Music: English Traditional
Meter: 88 88
Source: G. Walters, A Good Christmas Box (Dudley: G. Walters, 1847, Reprinted by Michael Raven, 2007), pp. 19-20.
Hark! Hark! What news the angels bring,
Glad tidings of a new-born King;
Born of a maid, a virgin pure,
In virtuous innocence secure.
Hail mighty Prince, eternal King,
Let heaven and earth rejoice and sing,
Angels and men with one accord,
Break forth in praises to the Lord.
Behold he comes and leaves the skies,
Awake, ye slumbering mortals, rise;
Awake to joy and hail the morn,
The Saviour of this world was born.
With endless love he came to dwell
On earth, to save mankind from hell;
In chorus then with joy and mirth,
We celebrate our Saviour's birth.
Echo shall waft the strains around,
Till listening angels hear the sound,
And all the heavenly host above,
Shall join to sing redeeming love.
Note:
Also found in A Selections of Hymns for Christmas Day, 1814, To Be Sung at the Methodist New Chapel, Waltham Street, Hull, (Hull: Topping & Dazson, 1814), Hymn #5, pp. 6-7.
As is so often the case, there are several variants of this carol, including
Hark, Hark! What News (Sandys, Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, et al., with Notes and Sheet Music)
Hark Hark What News The Angels Bring (Chope, Carols For Use In Church, with sheet music)
Hark! Hark What News The Angels Bring! (Pettman, Modern Christmas Carols, with sheet music)
The Saviour's Birth (from A Good Christmas Box) (this page)
If you would like to help support Hymns and Carols of Christmas, please click on the button below and make a donation.