Scripture Verse

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Introduction

portrait
John B. Dykes (1823–1876)

Words: Un­known au­thor, prob­ab­ly 14th or 15th Cen­tu­ry (In na­ta­li Do­mi­ni). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Ri­chard F. Lit­tle­dale in Christ­mas Ca­rols New and Old, by Hen­ry R. Bram­ley & John Stain­er (Lon­don: No­vel­lo, Ewer & Com­pa­ny, 1871), pag­es 30–31.

Music: John B. Dykes (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Lit­tle­dale (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

On the birth­day of the Lord
Angels joy in glad ac­cord,
And they sing in sweet­est tone,
Glory be to God alone,
Glory be to God alone.

Refrain

God is born of maid­en fair,
Mary doth the Sav­ior bear;
Mary ev­er pure, Ma­ry ev­er pure.

These good news an an­gel told
To the shep­herds by their fold,
Told them of the Sav­ior’s birth,
Told them of the joy for earth,
Told them of the joy for earth.

Refrain

Born is now Em­ma­nu­el,
He, an­nounced by Ga­bri­el,
He, whom pro­phets old at­test,
Cometh from His Fa­ther’s breast,
Cometh from His Fa­ther’s breast.

Refrain

Born to­day is Christ the child,
Born of Ma­ry un­de­filed,
Born the king and Lord we own;
Glory be to God alone,
Glory be to God alone.

Refrain

illustration
Christmas Carols New and Old, 1871