Scripture Verse

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Introduction

portrait
Ira B. Wilson (1880–1950)

Words: Ed­ith S. Til­lot­son, 1903.

Music: Ira B. Wil­son (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Til­lot­son,

portrait
Edith J. S. Tillotson (1876–1968)

Lyrics

While Christ­mas lights are shin­ing,
And Christ­mas ca­rols ring,
While hol­ly wreaths are twin­ing,
And hap­py child­ren sing,
We ga­ther with re­joic­ing,
We march up­on our way,
With mu­sic sweet, we glad­ly greet
The mer­ry Christ­mas Day.

Refrain

While Christ­mas chimes are ring­ing,
We come to­day,
And Christ­mas songs we’re sing­ing
Along the way,
Our ban­ners rais­ing,
With hymns of prais­ing,
We come this Christ­mas Day.

While Christ­mas bells are ring­ing,
And Christ­mas greet­ings sound,
While hap­py lips are sing­ing,
As hearts with plea­sure bound,
We come with songs of glad­ness,
That echo far away,
Our voic­es raise a hymn of praise,
For mer­ry Christ­mas Day.

Refrain

While Christ­mas songs are swell­ing,
And Christ­mas gar­lands glow,
While lov­ing words are tell­ing,
The tale that well we know,
We meet again to wel­come
The sea­son glad and gay,
The bless­èd morn when Christ was born,
The mer­ry Christ­mas Day.

Refrain