The Christmas Bells
Ring the bells, the Christmas bells.
Chime out the wond’rous story;
First in song, on angel tongues,
It came from realms of glory;
"Peace on earth, good will to men",
Angelic voices ringing,
Christ, the Lord, to earth has come,
His glorious message bringing.
Common refrain[2]:
Ring the merry Christmas bells,
Chime out the wond’rous story,
Glory be to God on high,
For evermore be glory.
Wise men hastened from the east,
To bring their richest treasure,
Gold and myrrh, and frankincense,
And jewels without measure;
Him they sought, although a king,
They found in birth-place lowly,
There, within a manger, lay
The babe so pure and holy.
Earthly crowns were not for him,
He came God's love revealing;
On the cross he died for us,
His blood forgiveness sealing;
'Tis the Saviour promised long,
Ring out your loudest praises;
Every heart this happy day,
Its grateful anthem raises.
Alternate Refrain edit
Seward refrain[3]:
Ring the bells, the merry Christmas bells;
Chime out the wondrous story,
Glory be to God on high, For evermore be glory.
Notes edit
- ↑ Anonymous adaption to the tune Hold the fort(Popular educator, Boston: Educational Publishing Company, 1895, p. 172, <http://books.google.com/books?id=9vQBAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#PPA172>.)
- ↑ Settings by Arthur H. Brown, C. Erskine, Alfred Oake, and T.C. Dean (Hutchins, Charles L., ed. (1916), Carols old and carols new, Boston: The Parish Choir, <http://books.google.com/books?id=9aQQAAAAYAAJ>.)
- ↑ Setting by Theodore F. Seward (Lowry, Robert, ed. (1869), Bright jewels for the Sunday school, New York: Biglow & Main, p. 122, <http://books.google.com/books?id=7ghITjeFeLsC>.)
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse