Scripture Verse

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10

Introduction

Words: An­zen­tia I. Chap­man, in The Ban­ner of Vic­to­ry, by Alon­zo J. Ab­bey & Mer­ritt J. Mun­ger (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ol­iv­er Di­tson, 1881), num­ber 8.

Music: Alon­zo J. Ab­bey (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Chiming bells are tune­ful ring­ing;
Joyful ca­rols we are sing­ing;
Merry, mer­ry Christ­mas day;
Brightest day of all the year,
Bringing bless­èd words of cheer,
’Tis our Sav­ior’s na­tal day.

Refrain

Chiming bells are tune­ful ring­ing;
Joyful ca­rols we are sing­ing;
Merry, mer­ry Christ­mas,
Merry, mer­ry Christ­mas,
Merry, mer­ry Christ­mas day.

Gladsome day of man’s sal­va­tion;
Spread the news to ev­ery na­tion;
Christ the Lord has come to earth.
Praise Him now, our Sav­ior king,
Grateful of­fer­ings to Him bring;
Chant anew Em­ma­nu­el’s birth.

Refrain

Bright o’er us the light is beam­ing,
For with love the sky is teem­ing
At this mer­ry Christ­mas time.
Glory be to God! our song
Saints and an­gels now pro­long,
While the bells their ca­rols chime.

Refrain