Lyrics: Edmund Sears (1810–1876) Music: Richard S. Willis (1819–1900)

1. 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 heav’n’s all-gracious King.”

• The world in solemn stillness lay

• To hear the angels sing.

2. Still through the cloven skies they come,

• With peaceful wings unfurled,

• And still their heav’nly music floats

• O’er all the weary world.

• Above its sad and lowly plains

• They bend on hov’ring wing,

• And ever o’er its Babel sounds

• The blessed angels sing.

3. O ye, beneath life’s crushing load

• Whose forms are bending low,

• Who toil along the climbing way

• With painful steps and slow,

• Look now, for glad and golden hours

• Come swiftly on the wing:

• O rest beside the weary road,

• And hear the angels sing!

4. For lo, the days are hast’ning on,

• By prophets seen of old,

• When with the ever-circling years,

• Shall come the time foretold,

• When the new heav’n and earth shall own

• The Prince of Peace their King,

• And the whole world send back the song

• Which now the angels sing.