Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

Words: Al­ice J. Clea­tor, in Up­lift­ed Voic­es, ed­it­ed by Ad­am Gei­bel & Frank Leh­man (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Ad­am Gei­bel Mu­sic, 1901), num­ber 169.

Music: R. Frank Leh­man (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Clea­tor (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
R. Frank Lehman (1859–1931)

Lyrics

illustration
Shepherds Abiding in the Fields
Carl H. Bloch (1834–1890)

All the ci­ty lies in sleep­ing,
O’er the sea a si­lence reigns;
Lowly shep­herds watch are keep­ing
O’er their flocks on Ju­dah’s plains.

Refrain

Hark the song, the song of an­gels,
News of joy and peace we glad­ly bring;
In the fa­vored ci­ty yon­der,
Christ is born, is born to­day a king.
In the fa­vored ci­ty yon­der,
Christ is born to­day a king.

Lo! a star­ry light is shin­ing,
Music thrills the arch of night.
Shepherds on the plains re­clin­ing
Rise to greet the song and light.

Refrain

In a shel­ter rude and low­ly
Shepherds find the Prince of Light;
O how beau­ti­ful and ho­ly
Was that hap­py Christ­mas night.

Refrain