It came upon the midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
With news of joy foretold
"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
Still through the cloven skies they come
Love's banner all unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
Over all the weary world
Above its sad and lowly plains
Old echoes plaintive ring
And ever over its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the Angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man at war with man hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O! hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the Angels sing
O ye, beneath life's crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing
For lo! the days are hastening on
By prophets seen of old
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their King
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing