It came upon a midnight clear
That glorious song of old
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth, good will to men
From Heaven’s gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing
Still through the cloven skies, they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still the heavenly music flows
Over all the weary world
Above its sad and lonely plains
They bend on hovering wing
And, o’er its Babel ancient sounds
The blessed angels sing
Oh, you beneath life’s crushing load
Whose forms are bending low
Who tore among the climbing way
With painful steps and slow
Look now for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wind
Oh, rest beside the weary road
To hear the angels sing
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.
