The Hymnal 1982 90
It came upon the midnight clear
- Tune
- noel
- Author(s)
- Edmund H. Sears, 1810-1876
- Composer(s)
- Arthur Seymour Sullivan, 1842-1900
- Meter
- 8.6.8.6 D
More information available on ritesong or Hymnary.org.
1. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old, from angels bending near the earth, to touch their harps of gold: “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.
2. Still through the cloven skies they come with peaceful wings unfurled, and still their heavenly music floats o'er all the weary world; above its sad and lowly plains bend on hovering wing, and ever o'er its Babel sounds the blessed angels sing.
3. Yet with the woes of sin and strife the world has suffered long; beneath the heavenly hymn have rolled two thousand years of wrong; and warring humankind hears not the tidings which they bring; O hush the noise and cease your strife and hear the angels sing!
4. For lo! the days are hastening on, by prophets seen of old, when with the ever-circling years shall come the time foretold, when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, and the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing.