Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.@Luke 2:8

S. Oji­ma; trans­lat­ed from Ja­pa­nese to Eng­lish by Kate I. Han­sen. In the re­frain, Koo­ree­soo­mah­soo is Ja­pa­nese for “Christ­mas.”

Com­pos­er un­known (MIDI, NWC, PDF).

Lowly shepherds of Judea,
On a winter’s night,
Heard a sound of angel voices,
Saw a wondrous light.

Refrain

O, merry, merry, merry, Koo-ree-soo-mah-soo!
Let us all be very merry, Koo-ree-soo-mah-soo!

Eastern wise men seeking Jesus,
Traveling from afar,
Just like us were filled with gladness,
When they saw His star.

Refrain

Friends today are keeping Christmas,
In America,
Brothers, sisters, singing with us,
Down in Africa.

Refrain

Transliteration of the Japanese:

Yoodahyah no hetsoo jee woe,
Kohoh hetoe moh,
Nohdohkahnee eewahee nok,
Kohe woe ta te.

Nan daka oohrashee
Kooreesoomahsoo,
Wahrarah moureshee,
Kooreesoomahsoo.