PLEASE NOTE: Not all verses may be sung and words may vary in the particular hymn presentation.
Ding Dong! Merrily on High
Words: George Ratcliffe Woodward
Music: Branle de l’Official | From Orchésographie by Jehan Tabourot (Thoinot Arbeau, pseudonym), 1588
1. Ding dong! merrily on high
In heav’n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv’n with Angel singing.
2. E’en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And “Io, io, io!”
By priest and people sungen.
3. Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Refrain:
Gloria,
Hosanna in excelsis!
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Words: Authorship Unknown; possibly 8th or 12th Century Latin
Music: Veni Emmanuel | 15th Century French Plain Song melody
1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
2. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
3. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
4. O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
5. O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
6. O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
7. O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
8. O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Angels We Have Heard on High
Words: Traditional French Carol
Music: Gloria | French Carol Melody
1. Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains. (or, Echo back their joyous strains)
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be (or, Say what may the tidings be)
Which inspire your heav’nly song?
3. Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing; (or, Him whose birth the angels sing)
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
4. See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.
Refrain:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
