O, Holy Night!

(A Christmas Carol)

Author: Thos. C. Roney

Source: W. S. B. Mathews, ed., Music – A Monthly Magazine, Vol. XI, Nov. 1896-Apr. 1897, p. 211.

Unrelated to the translation by Dwight of Cantique de Noël or Minuit, Chrétiens ("Midnight, Christians").

Oh, holy night! Oh, glorious light,
     That shines on Bethlehem town!
Oh, music sweet, that from the skies
     Comes floating softly down!
The echo of the angels' song
     Falls on our ears again:
“All glory be to God on high,
     And peace, good will to men.”

The shepherds heard, like note of bird,
     That midnight carol clear,
And to the manger and the babe
     In awe and love drew near
And, as they gazed, the heavenly strain
     Rang in their hearts again:
“All glory be to God on high,
     And peace, good will to men”

'Twas service sweet, 'twas homage meet
     For lowly men to pay;
And we our hearts' obeisance make
     Upon this Christmas day.
We join ye, angel choristers,
     As ye repeat again:
“All glory be to God on high,
     And peace, good will to men.”

Oh, holy night! Oh, glorious light,
     That shines on Bethlehem town!
Oh, music sweet, that from the skies
     Comes softly floating down!
We catch the golden cadences
     And fling them back again --
“All glory be to God on high,
     And peace, good will to men.”

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