Scripture Verse

I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10–11

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous, in A Se­lect­ion of Car­ols, Piec­es and An­thems (Lon­don: W. Kent, cir­ca 1860), page 11.

Music: Ari­zo­na Ro­bert H. Earn­shaw, in The Book of Praise (To­ron­to, On­tar­io, Ca­na­da: Ox­ford Uni­ver­si­ty Press, 1918) (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Arise and sing, di­spel your fears,
Tidings of joy sa­lute your ears,
And Heav’n pours forth its sac­red light
To dis­si­pate the gloom of night.

See from the high­est realms of bliss
Angels des­cend to pub­lish peace;
Wrapped in the glo­ri­ous theme, the plains
Resound in their me­lo­di­ous strain.

Lo, the bright sun of right­eous­ness,
Appears the des­ert world to bless;
May ev­ery soul their tribu­te bring,
And worlds un­born His glo­ry sing.