The First Christmas Night Lyrics

1. I should like to have heard the Angels sing,
On that first great Christmas morn,
To have knelt and listened to music so sweet,
O'er the Babe in Bethlehem born.

[Chorus:]
But I may sing of that Babe today,
Oh, so tender, so kind, so fair,
And the Angels still gladden our Christmas morn,
And sing in our midnight air.

2. I should have like to have watched the great stars shine,
As they did that Christmas night;
Till my heart was bright with a heavenly flame,
And my soul was bathed in light.

[Chorus:]
But the stars are still there in heaven above,
And as sweetly still they shine;
And the lapse of years and the wear of time
Make no change in that heaven of mine.

3. I should like to have been a shepherd there,
To have watched my flock by night,
To have seen the wonderful glory shine,
Till the hills were paved with light.

[Chorus:]
But I need no Bethel hill to climb
Nor a shepherd my calling be,
For I'm but a sheep, and no shepherd I,
That Jesus must be to me.

4. I should like to have seen that manger crib,
To have knelt before that shrine,
To have laid my gift at those tender feet,
And have worshipped the Babe divine.

[Chorus:]
But I may worship that Babe today,
And as truly my Christmas see,
For His presence is now my Bethlehem,
And His love shall my carol be.