Bethlehem Town

As I was going to Bethlehem town

Author: Eugene Field
Tune: HOFFMAN
Published in 2 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. As I was going to Bethlehem-town,
Upon the earth I cast me down
All underneath a little tree
That whispered in this way to me:
Oh, I shall stand on Calvary
And bear what burden saveth thee:
Oh, I shall stand on Calvary
And bear what burden saveth thee!

2. As up I fared to Bethlehem-town,
I met a shepherd coming down,
And thus he said: A wondrous sight
Hath spread before mine eyes this night—
An angel host most fair to see,
That sung full sweetly of a tree
That shall uplift on Calvary
What burden saveth you and me!

3. And as I got to Bethlehem-town,
Lo! wise men came that bore a crown.
Is there, cried I, in Bethlehem
A King shall wear this diadem?
Most sure, they said, and it is He
That shall be lifted on the tree
And freely shed on Calvary
What blood redeemeth us and thee!

4. Unto a Child in Bethlehem-town
The wise men came and brought the crown;
And while the Infant smiling slept,
Upon their knees they fell and wept;
But, with her Babe upon her knee,
Naught recked that Mother of the tree,
That should uplift on Calvary
What burden saveth all and me.

5. Again I walk in Bethlehem-town
And think on Him that wears the crown.
I may not kiss His feet again,
Nor worship Him as did I then;
My King hath died upon the tree,
And hath outpoured on Calvary
What blood redeemeth you and me:
Outpoured for us on Calvary.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #487

Author: Eugene Field

Field, Eugene, an American journalist who has written somewhat extensively for children, was born at St. Louis, Missouri, Sep. 2, 1850, educated at the University of Missouri, and died Nov. 4, 1895. His published works include Little Book of Western Verse, 1889; Second Book of Verse, 1891; and Love Songs of Childhood, 1894. A limited number of his hymns are in common use in America, and specimens of his verse are given in Horder's Treasury of American Sacred Song, 1900, pp. 283-287. See also "There burns a star o'er Bethlehem town." --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)  Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: As I was going to Bethlehem town
Title: Bethlehem Town
Author: Eugene Field
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #487
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 2 of 2)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #487

Page Scan

The Treasury of American Sacred Song with Notes Explanatory and Biographical #385

Exclude 1 pre-1979 instance
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us