Scripture Verse

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14

Introduction

portrait
George Hugg (1848–1907)

Words: F. E. Pet­tin­gell, in The Help­er in Sac­red Song, ed­it­ed by George C. Hugg & Frank L. Arm­strong (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Church & Sun­day School Mu­sic Pub­lish­ing, 1889), pag­es 190–91.

Music: George C. Hugg (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Pet­tin­gell’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of her (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

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