The Angel Chorus Lyrics

1. On the wintry and lonely hillside,
All in the dim starlight,
Shepherds over the flock were keeping
Watch at the dead of night;
When swift angels of light came down,
And earth with hosannas rang;
Harps of gold and cherubic voices
Loudly and cheerly sang
At Bethlehem: -

[Chorus:]
Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, good-will to men.

2. Earth was wrapped in a robe of winter;
Kindly the new-fall'n snow
Drew the veil of a virgin whiteness
Pure over guild and woe.
Beasts of prey on the frozen mountain,
Flocks on the charmed plain,
Nature all, in entranced rapture,
Listened to that sweet strain
From Bethlehem: -
Glory to God,

3. Proudly marching along the forum,
Priests, with a pompous train,
Closed the gates of the Roman Janus
Under a C-sar's reign.
Every where, and in every nation,
War, with its carnage grim,
Shouts and groans, and the roar of battle,
Ceased for the Angel's hymn
At Bethlehem: -
Glory to God,

4. Lo! each oracle of the heathen
Soon disenchanged proves:
Through the gloom of the dark Dodona,
Dumb are the oaken groves;
Dumb the voice of Apollo's priestess,
Delphi is left forlorn;
All the realms of the demons tremble,
Knowing their Conqueror born
At Bethlehem: -
Glory to God,

5. Wide and wider at every Christmas
Echoes the joyful sound;
From Judea the glad good tidings
Now run the wide world round.
Sing, then, sing, for the listening Angels,
Bending on eager wing,
Join us now in the royal Chorus
They were the first to sing,
At Bethlehem: -
Glory to God,