Scripture Verse

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Luke 2:8–9

Introduction

portrait
Louis F. Benson (1855–1930)

Words: Lou­is F. Ben­son, in The School Hym­nal (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion and Sab­bath-School Work, 1899), num­ber 62.

Music: Kings­fold, Eng­lish tune. Ar­ranged by Ralph Vaugh­an Will­iams, 1906 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

Lyrics

O sing a song of Bethlehem,
Of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them
From angels in the air.
The light that shone on Bethlehem
Fills all the world today;
Of Je­sus’ birth and peace on earth
The angels sing alway.

O sing a song of Nazareth,
Of sunny days of joy;
O sing of fragrant flowers’ breath,
And of the sinless Boy.
For now the flowers of Nazareth
In every heart may grow;
Now spreads the fame of His dear name
On all the winds that blow.

O sing a song of Ga­li­lee,
Of lake and woods and hill,
Of Him who walked upon the sea
And bade the waves be still.
For though like waves on Ga­li­lee,
Dark seas of trouble roll,
When faith has heard the Mas­ter’s word,
Falls peace upon the soul.

O sing a song of Cal­va­ry,
Its glo­ry and dismay,
Of Him who hung upon the tree,
And took our sins away.
For He who died on Cal­va­ry
Is ris­en from the grave,
And Christ, our Lord, by Hea­ven adored,
Is mighty now to save.