When Christmas Morn Is Dawning

Version 1; Compare: When Christmas Morn Is Dawning - Version 2

Words: Attributed to Abel Burckhardt. Translated to Swedish, 1851
English Translation of När Juldagsmorgon Glimmar
Translated from Swedish to English by Claude William Foss (1855-1935)

Music: "Juldagsmorgon," German folk tune, 1823
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

1. When Christmas morn is dawning
In faith I would repair
Unto the lowly manger;
My Savior lieth there,
Unto the lowly manger;
My Savior lieth there.

2. How kind, O loving Savior,
To come from heav’n above;
From sin and evil save us,
And keep us in Thy love,
From sin and evil save us,
And keep us in Thy love.

3. We need Thee, blessèd Jesus,
Our dearest friend Thou art;
Forbid that we by sinning
Should grieve Thy loving heart,
Forbid that we by sinning
Should grieve Thy loving heart,

Notes from the Hymnuts

Often attributed to Betty Ehrenborg Posse, the Swedish writer of Spiritual Songs for Children ("Andliga sånger för barn") because it appeared in volume II of the series of the same name, this charming Christmas hymn can be traced to an older collection of spiritual songs for children, Andelig Ortegård för Barn in 1851 by G. Berggren, a school teacher in Kalmar, Sweden. In that collection the text is credited to Abel Burckhardt. Nothing is known of his work.

Wir Hatten Gebauet
76.76.76

A German folk melody thought to be from Thuringia, it has been known since 1819, when it was sung on November 29 to August von Binzer's text, "Wir hatten Gebauet." The tune is used by Johannes Brahms in his Academic Festival Overture.

 

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