On dewy plains where shep­herds were abid­ing
Beside their flocks, with ten­der, watch­ful eye;
Awoke the song, the still night air di­vid­ing,
The song of an­gels rang thro’ the star­lit sky.

Refrain

Glad an­gel voic­es, from thy do­main,
Strike thy full cho­rus, re­peat thy sweet re­frain;
Fair spi­rits ho­ver near each hap­py throng,
This day as­sem­bled, to sing thy Christ­mas song.

In low­ly stall a new­born Babe was sleep­ing,
While dumb, meek kine un­heed­ing stand around;
A mo­ther’s love her watch­ful vi­gils keep­ing,
While thro’ the night air glad an­gel voic­es sound.

Refrain

O star­lit night, how sweet thy mu­sic ring­ing!
How blest the truth, the sto­ry of His birth!
O an­gel throng, thro’ Hea­ven’s arch­es wing­ing,
May the grand cho­rus re-ec­ho round the earth!

Refrain