It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

The Reverend Edmund Sears (1810-76), a Unitarian Minister in Massachusetts, wrote this carol, which is based on a traditional melody that probably originated in Herefordshire, England.

1. It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old;
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold!
"Peace on the earth, good will to men;
From heaven's all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

 2. Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats,
O'er all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing.
And ever o'er its Babel sounds,
The blessed angels sing.

 3. For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet bards foretold;
When, with the ever-circling years,
Comes round the age of gold.
When peace shall over all the earth,
Its ancient splendours fling;
And all the world give back the song,
Which now the angels sing
.

 

Back to the Christmas Carols listing