O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
Written by John Francis Wade, 18th century
O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
O Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
Winter scene people walking through a snowy park with white lights in trees
Christmas balls in shades of gold, bronze and brown
Winter scene people walking through a snowy park with white lights in trees
For a long time, the authorship of Adeste Fideles was attributed to St. Bonaventura, a 13th century Italian scholar. However, shortly after WWII, Rev. Maurice Frost discovered Latin manuscripts of the carol by John Francis Wade. Wade fled England due to religious persecution during the eighteenth century. He made a living copying and selling manuscripts of church music, as well as teaching music.
Written by William Dix, 1865
What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
Why lies he in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant king to own Him,
The King of kings, salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
William Dix wrote this popular Christmas carol in 1865. Originally a poem entitled The Manger Throne. An unknown Englishman set the poem to the then very popular British tune Greensleeves, and the carol became immensely popular in both Britain and the US.
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Words & Music: John Henry Hopkins, Jr. 1857
We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Born a King on Bethlehem plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, Ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh:
Prayer and praising
All men raising,
Worship Him God on high.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Myrrh is mine; it’s bitter perfume;
Breathes a life of gathering gloom: —
Sorrowing, sighing,
Bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Chorus
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Glorious now behold Him arise,
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia
Sounds through the earth and skies.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading, Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
We Three Kings of Orient Are was written by John Henry Hopkins Jr., an Episcopal pastor in 1857. It continues the unfounded legend that the Magi were kings, but it does capture the image of a trip across the desert and plains.
Music by William J. Kirkpatrick 1883
Words & Music: Author unknown
Modern arrangement: Cecil Sharp, 1911
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir
Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head
The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay
The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes
I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there
In Britain, Away in a Manger is one of the most popular Christmas carols of all time. Away in a Manger was first published in 1885, in a Lutheran Sunday school book. This led to the misconception that it was written by Martin Luther, but there is no evidence in any of his writings that it was. The music to Away in a Manger was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895.
In verse 2, the line "no crying he makes" is considered docetic heresy with the line's implication that, by not crying, Jesus could not have been fully human as is taught by orthodox Christian doctrine.
Waits (or Waites) were British town pipers. This merry band of musicians, which were part of many British towns and cities from medieval times until the 19th century, would visit from house to house singing and playing the newest carols of the day. The Holly and the Ivy would be a popular part of their repertoire. Ivy, holly and mistletoe were prominent green plants in the British woodlands during the winter, so they became a part of English Christmas tradition.
The First Noel
16th century traditional English Carol
The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!
Little Drummer Boy
Written by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone
Come they told me,
pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see,
pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring,
pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King,
pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
Little Baby,
pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too,
pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring,
pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King,
pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?
Mary nodded,
pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time,
pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him,
pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him,
pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me,
pa rum pum pum pum,
me and my drum.
The First Noel is a traditional classical English Christmas carol. The original version of The First Noel dates back to at least the 17th century. In 1823, William B. Sandys (1792-1874), and Davies Gilbert (1767-1839) edited and added lyrics to create the version we sing today. The origin of the current melody is uncertain. The English word Nowell is from the French word Noel, which means Christmas which is derived from the Latin word natalis which means birth.
One of the most popular Christmas songs of all time, the Little Drummer boy as originally titled "Carol of the drums."
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Decades ago, so a claymation version of the "Little Drummer Boy" was produced by Rankin-Bass for television in 1968 with the voice of Eileen Evelyn with Greer Garson narrating.
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There is some controversy over who wrote the song and who composed it.