Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14
Words: Eben E. Rexford, in Good Will, edited by T. Martin Towne & Jairus M. Stillman (Chicago, Illinois: Fleming H. Revell, 1878), page 35.
Music: Marsala W. Irving Hartshorn, 1878 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Hartshorn (head-and-shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
When up in Heav’n the angels sing,
In praise of Jesus Christ our king,
And all the bells for gladness ring,
In the happy Christmas morning.
Refrain
O sing, my heart, for gladness sing,
In praise of Jesus Christ our king;
What angels sing on Christmas still,
Be peace on earth, to men good will.
Be happy as the angels are,
While no rude discord comes to mar
The sons that welcome Bethle’m’s star
In the happy Christmas morning.
Refrain
Be more like Christ than we have been,
And sing again, and yet again,
Be peace on earth, good will to men,
In the happy Christmas morning.
Refrain