Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

Words: Hen­ry R. Bram­ley, Christ­mas Carols, New and Old (Lon­don: No­vel­lo, Ew­er, 1871), num­ber 27.

Music: In­ter­lak­en tra­di­tion­al tune, ar­ranged by John Stain­er, 1871 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
John Stainer (1840–1901)

Lyrics

illustration
Christmas Carols, New and Old, 1871

Wake all mu­sic’s ma­gic pow­ers,
On this bliss­ful morn­ing;
Born to­day, the Child is ours,
Theme of pro­phet’s warn­ing;
Giant in the race He tow’rs,
Toil and dan­ger scorn­ing.

Refrain

O that bless­èd go­ing out,
Which sal­va­tion brought about,
O that bless­èd go­ing out,
Which sal­va­tion brought about.

Let this glo­ri­ous ho­li­day
Find such ho­ly spend­ing,
That the sim­ple heart­ed may
Joy with­out of­fend­ing,
And sweet cha­ri­ty may stay,
With our con­course blend­ing.

Refrain

Give we glo­ry to this feast,
For man’s re­sto­ra­tion:
Now the guil­ty is re­leased,
Freed from con­dem­na­tion:
By the wi­dow’s son de­ceased,
See Eli­sha’s sta­tion!

Refrain

O how bright is this day made,
Day with ra­di­ance glow­ing,
Which the Light of light dis­played,
Light in dark­ness show­ing;
Chasing thus death’s gloomy shade,
Brightness o’er us throw­ing!

Refrain

Risen to­day in splen­dor bright,
Shining to all ag­es,
Beams the Sun, whose dist­ant light
Touched the pro­phet’s pag­es;
Now, to end the reign of night,
Christ His pow­er en­gag­es.

Refrain