A Carol for Christmas Eve

The winter night was dark and still

Author: Louis F. Benson (1917)
Tune: CHRISTMAS CAROL (Davies)
Published in 6 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. The winter night was dark and still,
The village lay asleep;
In meadows underneath the hill
The shepherds watched their sheep;
The shepherds watched their sheep, good Lord,
But angels watched o’er Thee,
While Mary held Thee to her heart,
And they sang jubilee.

2. And now the yule log glows aflame,
And winds without run wild,
We softly speak the blessèd name
They gave Thee as a child,
They gave Thee as a child, good Lord;
O winter winds, be still!
O Christmas star, shine down again
On meadow and on hill!

3. Lord Jesus, look from Heav’n above,
And come, Lord Jesus, here:
To fill our home with Christmas love,
Our hearts with Christmas cheer,
Our hearts with Christmas cheer, good Lord;
And happy may we be,
All lads and maidens in our homes
And sailor boys at sea.

4. O Mary’s Son, for her sweet sake
All womankind is blest;
We praise Thy name when first we wake,
And when we go to rest;
And when we go to rest, good Lord,
Our nightly thanks are given
For all good mothers—some on earth,
And some with Thine in Heaven.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #7499

Author: Louis F. Benson

Benson, Louis FitzGerald, D.D., was born at Philadelphia, Penn., July 22, 1855, and educated at the University of Penn. He was admitted to the Bar in 1877, and practised until 1884. After a course of theological studies he was ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia North, in 1888. His pastorate of the Church of the Redeemer, Germantown, Phila., extended from his ordination in 1888 to 1894, when he resigned and devoted himself to literary and Church work at Philadelphia. He edited the series of Hymnals authorised for use by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., as follows:— (1) The Hymnal, Phila., 1895; (2) The Chapel Hymnal, 1898; and (3) The School Hymnal, 1899. Dr. Benson's hymnological writings are somewh… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The winter night was dark and still
Title: A Carol for Christmas Eve
Author: Louis F. Benson (1917)
Language: English

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The Cyber Hymnal #7499
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The Cyber Hymnal #7499

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