Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14
Words: Marie R. Butler, in Songs of Glory, edited by James Fillmore (Cincinnati, Ohio: Fillmore Brothers, 1874), number 98, alt. Original first line: Almost two thousand years have left.
Music: Cambridgeshire James H. Fillmore, Sr., 1874 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Butler (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Now o’er two thousand years have left
Their footprints on the earth,
Since Time first brought the golden day
Of our Redeemer’s birth;
And still we sing the Christmas song
The angels chanted then—
Our lips repeat the echo still
Of peace, good will to men.
The morning stars forever sing
The angels’ Christmas song,
The sunset dies at evening with
No brooding thought of wrong;
Tho’ time should mark our way with tears
We’ll sing the song again,
As each returning Christmas Eve
Brings peace, good will to men.