The Angel And The Shepherds Lyrics

1. Awake, ye shepherds, instantly,
Forsake your flocks awhile;
The new-born Pastor of His sheep,
Awaits you with a smile;
Give glad some song and carol sweet,
With ready pipe and flue
Today, that we in heaven sing,
The earth must not be mute.

2, What sound is this from out the sky?
Not yet the dawn does break.
The day for labour, night for rest,
O why should we awake?
The cock from off the farmyard rick
Has not yet tun'd his throat,
The voice was but a dreamer's voice,
On dreaming ears it smote.

3. O shepherds, wake and rise betimes;
The darkness rolls away,
The dawn is kindling in the East -
The dawn of perfect day.
To those who long in darkness strayed
Awakes the Gospel dawn,
To all who wandering sheep have been
The Shepherd true is born.

4. Arise, arise, bring tabret, lute,
And shepherds haste away,
We'll tune, as we to Bethlehem speed,
A gallant roundelay.
The shepherds' feast of feasts is come,
We'll dance and pipe and sing, --
The Holy Child that's born will be
The shepherds' Holy King.