The Sussex Carol

For Christmas

Also known as
On Christmas Night All Christians Sing
On Christmas Night True Christians Sing
The Sussex Carol

See: On Christmas Night - Notes

Words: On Christmas Night All Christians Sing, Attributed to Bishop Luke Waddinge (1628- ca. 1691), Bishop of Ferns, Ireland
A Smale Garland of Pious and Godly Songs (Ghent, 1684)
Four verses of 4 lines, with chorus.

 Music: English Traditional
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML / PDF

Source for this version: Lost

1. On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring

Chorus:
News of great joy news of great mirth
News of our merciful King's birth
When from our sin he set us free
All for to gain our liberty?

2. Then why should men on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad
Then why should men on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad Chorus

3. When sin departs before his grace
Then life and health come in its place
When in its place, angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the new born King Chorus

4. All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night
Glory to God and peace to men
Now and forever more, Amen.

Note:

The nickname "The Sussex Carol" comes from the location where Dr. Ralph Vaughan Williams collected lyrics and a tune for this carol from Mrs. Verrall on May 24, 1904.

 

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