Irish Carol Lyrics

1. Christmas day is come; let's all prepare for mirth,
Which fills the earth and heaven at this amazing birth.
Through both the joyous angels in strife and hurry fly,
With glories and hosannas, "Holy Holy" they cry,

In heav'n the Church triumphant adores with all her choirs,
The militant on earth with humble faith admires.
In heav'n the Church triumphant adores with all her choirs,
The militant on earth with humble faith admires.

2. But how can we rejoice? Should we not rather mourn
To see the hope of nations thus in a stable born?
Where are his crown and sceptre? Where is his throne sublime?
Where is his train majestic that should the stars outshine?

There no sumptuous palace, nor any inn at all
To lodge his heavenly mother but in a filthy stall?
There no sumptuous palace, nor any inn at all
To lodge his heavenly mother but in a filthy stall?

3. Why does he thus demean or thus himself disguise?
Perhaps he would conceal him from cruel enemies.
He trusts but two dumb beasts a-feeding on their hay;
He steals to us at midnight, that none should him betray;

And his supposed father a carpenter must be,
That none should yet discover the sacred mystery.
And his supposed father a carpenter must be,
That none should yet discover the sacred mystery.

4. Yet hath he no intention to shun his fate decreed;
His death must be the ransom by which mankind is freed,
With a long course of suffering for thirty years and three
Which must be all completed upon Mount Calvary.

For these he now preserves him, contented to begin
In poverty and misery to pay for all our sin.
For these he now preserves him, contented to begin
In poverty and misery to pay for all our sin.

5. Oh! cease, ye blessed angels, such clamorous joys to make!
Though midnight silence favors, the shepherds are awake;
And you, O glorious star! that with new splendor brings
From the remotest parts three learned eastern kings,

Turn somewhere else your luster, your rays elsewhere display;
For Herod he may slay the babe, and Christ must straight away.
Turn somewhere else your luster, your rays elsewhere display;
For Herod he may slay the babe, and Christ must straight away.

6. Alas! to teaming Nature we offer rules in vain
Which, big with such a prodigy, cannot itself contain,
The rocks were split asunder to grieve our Savior's death,
And at his resurrection the dead sprung from the earth.

Then can we now expect that at his joyful birth
His creatures should conceal their triumph and their mirth?
Then can we now expect that at his joyful birth
His creatures should conceal their triumph and their mirth?

7. Then let our joys abound now all his grief is o'er;
We celebrate his victory: his sufferings we deplore.
Though 'twas in toil and slavery, his getting was for us:
Be welcome, then, thrice welcome, divine Savior Jesus!

Your Christmas is in glory: your torments all are passed:
Whate'er betide us now, grant us the same at least!
Your Christmas is in glory: your torments all are passed:
Whate'er betide us now, grant us the same at least!

8. If we would then rejoice, let's cancel the old score,
And, purposing amendment, resolve to sin no more --
For mirth can ne'er content us, without a conscience clear;
And thus we'll find true pleasure in all the usual cheer,

In dancing, sporting, revelling, with masquerade and drum,
So let our Christmas merry be, as Christians doth become.
In dancing, sporting, revelling, with masquerade and drum,
So let our Christmas merry be, as Christians doth become.