Scripture Verse

A virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matthew 1:23

Introduction

Words: Hon­yel G. Rose­dale (1863–1928). Ap­peared in Ca­rols Old and Ca­rols New, by Charles L. Hut­chins (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Par­ish Choir, 1916), num­ber 714.

Music: George F. Ter­ry (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Rose­dale or Ter­ry (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

Lyrics

All hail, ye merry folk today,
All hail, we sing our gladsome lay,
Come list to us as we do say,
Our carol gay.

Refrain

Noel, Noel, we sing Noel,
And this the angels came to tell,
For God who doeth all things well
With man doth dwell.

Begone all gloom, cast grief aside,
May joy with us for aye abide,
What better deed could us betide,
Than death defied.

Refrain

Come let us seek the infant King,
And homage pay, and to Him bring
Our hearts as fittest offering,
And to Him sing.

Refrain

Seek not ye palace rich or grand,
Nor with the greatest men to stand,
But join a lowly pilgrim band
In Israel’s land.

Refrain

Lo! there we find Him, greatest, best,
Who in a manger deigns to rest,
Who by His life ye world hath blest,
Most welcome guest.

Refrain

With us your happy songs unite,
Within your hearts to dwell, invite
The God who doeth all things right,
Your soul to light.

Refrain