Scripture Verse

I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day. Psalm 42:4

Introduction

Words: C. T. Bowen, in Ca­rols for Use in Church, by Ri­chard R. Chope (Lon­don: Will­iam Clowes & Sons, 1894), num­ber 1.

Music: Mer­ry Christ­mas C. T. Bow­en (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

  • Bulgaria an­on­ymous, in A New Ser­vice and Tune Book for Sun­day Schools, ed­it­ed by Al­fred Bai­ley Good­rich (New York: Ge­ne­ral Pro­test­ant Epis­co­pal Sun­day School Un­ion & Church Book So­cie­ty, 1863, new edi­tion, en­larged, 1866), num­ber 144 (🔊 pdf nwc)
  • Hermas Fran­ces R. Ha­ver­gal, 1871 (🔊 pdf nwc)

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

Lyrics

Sing we mer­ry Christ­mas,
Christmas blithe and free!
Time of ho­ly glad­ness,
Mirth and min­strel­sy.
Hark! the mer­ry church bells
Ringing joy­ous­ly,
Hailing with sweet mu­sic
Christ’s na­ti­vi­ty.

Haste we to the tem­ple,
Wreathe our gar­lands green;
Deck each arch and col­umn
For the fes­ti­ve scene.
Glory in the high­est!
Hark the an­gels sing;
Glory in the high­est
To our in­fant king!

Pastor, choir, and peo­ple
Join in con­cert all;
Sing your loud­est prais­es
At our fes­tiv­al.
Joy for us poor ex­iles
Comes this hap­py morn;
Jesus our Em­ma­nu­el,
Christ, the Lord, is born!