In Bethlem Town

In Bethlem town the Christ was born

Author: Leland Bryant Ross (1997)
Tune: SPRINGFIELD MOUNTAIN
Published in 1 hymnal

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. In Bethlem town the Christ was born.
They laid him down that starlit mor-ee-orn
Amidst the corn, in swaddling gown
Unbleached and worn, with hay his crown.

Too-loo-ree-loo, too-loo-ree-lay,
Too-loo-ree-loo: 'twas Christmas Day.

2. On hills nearby, poor shepherds graze
Their flocks. The sky explodes in prai-ee-aise,
With angels' lays to God on high:
"Fear not, this day salvation's nigh!

Too-loo-ree-loo, too-loo-ree-lirth,
Good will to you, and peace on earth!"

3. The shepherds then of one accord
To Bethlem ran to greet the Lor-ee-ord.
They found him sleeping in a trough,
Convolved in cheap, unwhitened cloth.

Too-loo-ree-laid, too-loo-ree-lotched,
They knelt and prayed as Mary watched.

4. From Persia far, wise Parsees came,
Led by his star, to praise his name-ee-ame.
They brought presents of gold and myrrh
And frankincense--and beaver fur,

Too-loo-ree-lurr, too-loo-ree-lee,
Then went home sur-reptitiously.

5. King Herod had bequestioned them,
With motive bad, about Bethlem-ee-em.
The crafty sages Herod left
In royal rage, of facts bereft--

Too-loo-ree-lilled, too-loo-ree-lents,
So Herod killed the Innocents.

6. God said to Joseph and his wife:
To Egypt go, to save your li-ee-ife.
Thine ancient namesake as a slave
To Egypt came your folk to save.

Too-loo-ree-lask, too-loo-ree-lun,
A sim'lar task awaits your son.

7. Good people all, consider ye,
Whom God hath called to liberty-I-ee--
Consider well the awful cost
The Scriptures tell in children lost;

Too-loo-ree-low, too-loo-ree-laid,
Consider now the ransoms paid.

8. God's peace to you; now merry be,
For 'tis all true, of verity-I-ee.
The baby born, ye know it well,
That holy morn, hath vanquished Hell,

Too-loo-ree-loss, too-loo-ree-lee,
Upon the cross, and we are free!

Source: TTT-Himnaro Cigneta #524

Author: Leland Bryant Ross

American Baptist layman. Amateur hymnologist and polyglot. Translator of many hymns into, and author of a few in, Esperanto, as well as some hymns in English. 13 texts (incl. 3 original) in Adoru, plus two in Espero Katolika's supplement. Edited the largest online Esperanto hymnal, TTT-Himnaro Cigneta, now accessible via the Wayback Machine at archive.org, (https://web.archive.org/web/20091021113553/http://geocities.com/cigneto/pretaj.html) as well as in large part here on Hymnary.org. Lives near Seattle. Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: In Bethlem town the Christ was born
Title: In Bethlem Town
Original Language: English
Author: Leland Bryant Ross (1997)
Language: English

Instances

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TextAudio

TTT-Himnaro Cigneta #524

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