Text: | O little town of Bethlehem |
Author: | P. Brooks (1835-1893) |
Tune: | FOREST GREEN |
Arranger: | R. Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) |
1 O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see you lie!
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by:
yet in your dark streets shining
is everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in you tonight.
2 For Christ is born of Mary,
and, gathered all above
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love:
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the king,
and peace to all on earth.
3 How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven:
no ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him — still
the dear Christ enters in.
4 O holy child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in,
be born in us today!
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell —
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel.
Text Information | |
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First Line: | O little town of Bethlehem |
Author: | P. Brooks (1835-1893) |
Meter: | 8 6 8 6 D (DCM) |
Language: | English |
Publication Date: | 1987 |
Topic: | Christmas 1: The Incarnation; God, Saviour: Born (Christmas Seasonal) |
Tune Information | |
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Name: | FOREST GREEN |
Arranger: | R. Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) |
Meter: | 8 6 8 6 D (DCM) |
Copyright: | arr. © Oxford University Press |
Notes: | Alternative tune: CHRISTMAS CAROL (88b) |