Ten thousand bright celestial lights
Adorn the eastern sky,
But one, and one alone, invites
The watcher’s wistful eye.
Lead on, lead on,
Lead on, thou starry light,
Lead on, lead on,
The pilgrims thro’ the night.

Refrain

Bright orb of night, celestial gem,
The star of Bethlehem!
The darksome night will soon be gone,
Bright star, lead on, lead on!
Lead on, lead on, bright star, lead on!

O strange and wondrous orb of light,
Of all the hosts the gem,
Thy starry pathway thro’ the night
Leads on to Bethlehem!
Lead on, lead on,
Lead on, thou starry light,
Lead on, lead on,
The pilgrims thro’ the night.

Refrain

Lo, now it rests—O, can it be—
Above yon lowly home!
O, can it be that here has He,
The world’s Redeemer, come?
Lead on, lead on,
Lead on, thou starry light,
Lead on, lead on,
The pilgrims thro’ the night.

Refrain

Farewell, farewell, thou gem of night,
Thy glory shall decline;
But with thy fading breaks the light
That shall forever shine!
Lead on, lead on,
Lead on, thou starry light,
Lead on, lead on,
The pilgrims thro’ the night.

Refrain