Inspirational Christmas Carols 

Christmas Carols:
Once In Royal David's City

Cecil Frances Alexander 1823-1895
Irish hymnist & poet

Once in royal David’s city,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby,
In a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to Earth from Heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:

With the poor and mean and lowly
Lived on Earth our Saviour Holy.
And through all His wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey,

Love and watch the lowly mother,
In whose gentle arms He lay.
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.

For He is our childhood’s pattern:
Day by day like us He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless:
Tears and smiles like us He knew:
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child, so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in Heaven above;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor, lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him - but in Heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars His children crowned,
All in white shall wait around.

Christmas Carols:
O Little Town Of Bethlehem

Phillips Brooks 1835-1893
American clergyman & author

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

O morning stars, together
Proclaim the Holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on Earth;
For Christ is born of Mary;
And, gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the Angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His Heaven.
No ear may hear His coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek Souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O Holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in;
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas Angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel.

Christmas Carols:
Christians, Awake, Salute The Happy Morn

John Byrom 1691-1763
English poet, hymnist & inventor of New Universal shorthand

Christians, awake, salute the happy morn,
Whereon the Saviour of mankind was born;
Rise to adore the mystery of love
Which hosts of Angels chanted from above;
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God Incarnate and the Virgin’s Son.

Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard the angelic herald’s voice: “Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour’s birth
To you and all the nations upon Earth:
This day hath God fulfilled His promised word,
This day is born, a Saviour, Christ the Lord.”

He spake: and straightaway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire;
The praises of redeeming love they sang,
And Heaven’s whole orb with hallelujahs rang;
God’s highest glory was their anthem still,
Peace upon Earth, and unto men goodwill.

To Bethlehem straight the enlightened shepherds ran,
To see the wonder God had wrought for man;
And found, with Joseph and the blessed Maid,
Her Son, the Saviour, in a manger laid;
Then to their flocks, still praising God, return,
And their glad hearts with Holy rapture burn.

O may we keep and ponder in our mind
God’s wondrous love in saving lost mankind!
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From His poor manger to His bitter cross;
Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man’s first Heavenly state again takes place.

Then may we hope, the angelic hosts among,
To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song:
He that was born upon this joyful day
Around us all His glory shall display;
Save by His love, incessant we shall sing
Eternal praise to Heaven’s Almighty King.

Christmas Carols:
See, Amid The Winter's Snow

Edward Caswall 1814-1878
English clergyman & hymnist

See, amid the winter’s snow,
Born for us on Earth below,
See, the Lamb of God appears,
Promised from eternal years.

Hail, thou ever-blessed morn!
Hail, redemption’s happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem:
Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies,
He who, throned in height sublime,
Sits amid the cherubim.

Say, ye Holy shepherds, say,
What your joyful news today;
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
On the lonely mountain steep?

As we watched at dead of night,
Lo, we saw a wondrous light:
Angels, singing peace on Earth,
Told us of the Saviour’s birth.

Sacred Infant, all Divine,
What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from Highest Bliss
Down to such a world as this!

Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,
By Thy face so meek and mild,
Teach us to resemble Thee
In Thy sweet humility.

Christmas Carols:
Jesus, Good Above All Other

Percy Dearmer 1867-1936
English Anglican priest

Jesus, good above all other,
Gentle Child of gentle mother,
In a stable born our brother,
Give us grace to persevere.

Jesus, cradled in a manger,
For us facing every danger,
Living as a homeless stranger,
Make we Thee our King most dear.

Jesus, for Thy people dying,
Risen Master, death defying,
Lord in Heaven, Thy grace supplying,
Keep us to Thy presence near.

Jesus, who our sorrows bearest,
All our thoughts and hopes Thou sharest;
Thou to man the truth declarest;
Help us all Thy truth to hear.

Lord, in all our doings guide us;
Pride and hate shall ne’er divide us;
We’ll go on with Thee beside us,
And with joy we’ll persevere!

Christmas Carols:
Rejoice And Be Merry

Old Dorset Church Gallery Book

Rejoice and be merry in songs and in mirth!
O praise our Redeemer, all mortals on Earth!
For this is the birthday of Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation, His praises we’ll sing!

A heavenly vision appeared in the sky;
Vast numbers of angels the shepherds did spy,
Proclaiming the birthday of Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation, His praises we’ll sing!

Likewise a bright star in the sky did appear,
Which led the wise men from the east to draw near;
They found the Messiah, sweet Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation, His praises we’ll sing!

And when they were come, they their treasures unfold,
And unto Him offered myrrh, incense and gold.
So blessed for ever be Jesus our King,
Who brought us salvation, His praises we’ll sing!

Christmas Carols:
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott 1836-1897
English religious poet, hymnist & writer

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to Earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home there was found no room
For Thy holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth cam’st Thou,
Lord, on Earth
And in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.

The foxes found rest, and the birds had their nest
In the shade of the cedar tree;
But Thy couch was the sod,
O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set Thy children free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee.

When Heav’n’s arches shall ring,
and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying, “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”
And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest me.

Christmas Carols:
Give Heed, My Heart

Martin Luther 1483-1546
German priest, theologian & author

Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes:
Who is it in yon manger lies?
Who is this Child so young and fair?
The blessed Christ Child lieth there.

Ah, Lord, Who has created all,
How hast Thou made Thee weak and small,
That Thou must choose Thy infant bed
Where ass and ox but lately fed?

Were Earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
She yet were far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee

Ah, dearest Jesu, Holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more their silence keep;
I too must sing with joyful tongue
That sweetest ancient cradle-song.

Glory to God in highest Heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad new year to all the Earth

Christmas Carols:
Silent Night, Holy Night

Joseph Mohr 1792-1848
Austrian Roman Catholic priest & writer

Silent night, Holy night,
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in Heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from Heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Saviour is born.

Silent night, Holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy Holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

Silent night, Holy night:
Sleeps the world; hid from sight.
Mary and Joseph in stable bare
Watch o’er the child beloved and fair,
Sleeping in heavenly rest.

Silent night, holy night:
Shepherds first saw the light,
Heard resounding clear and long,
Far and near, the Angel-song:
“Christ, the Redeemer is here.”

Silent night, Holy night:
Son of God, O how bright
Love is smiling from Thy face!
Strikes for us now the hour of grace,
Saviour, since Thou art born.

Christmas Carols:
Angels From The Realms Of Glory

James Montgomery 1771-1854
Scottish poet, hymnist & editor

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the Earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant light
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Sages, leave your contemplations;
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Saints, before the alter bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Though an infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:
Come and worship, come and worship,,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

All creation, join in praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising,
To th’eternal Three in One:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Christmas Carols:
Good Christians All, Rejoice

John Mason Neale 1818-1866
English Anglican priest, scholar & hymnist

Good Christians all, rejoice
With heart and Soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today!
Ox and ass before Him bow,
And He is in the manger now:
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!

Good Christians all, rejoice
With heart and Soul and voice!
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this;
He hath oped the Heavenly door,
And man is blest for evermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!

Good Christians all, rejoice
With heart and Soul and voice!
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save;
Calls you one, and calls you all,
To gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!

Christmas Carols:
O Come All Ye Faithful

Transalation:
Frederick Oakeley 1802-1880
English Catholic priest

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!

True God of true God,
Light of Light eternal,
Lo, He abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father,
Begotten, not created:

See how the shepherds,
Summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither
Bend our joyful footsteps:

Lo, star-led chieftains,
Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ-child
Bring our hearts’ oblations:

Sing, choirs of Angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above;
Glory to God
In the highest:

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing:

Christmas Carols:
In The Bleak Mid-Winter

Christina Rossetti 1830-1894
English poet

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter,
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him,
Nor Earth sustain;
Heaven and Earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign;
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom Angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel,
Which adore.

Angels and Archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But His mother only,
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part,
Yet what can I give Him? -
Give my heart.

Christmas Carols:
Love Came Down At Christmas

Christina Rossetti 1830-1894
English poet

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love Divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and Angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love Incarnate, Love Divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.

Christmas Carols:
From East To West, From Shore To Shore

Caelius Sedulius c450
Christian poet

From east to west, from shore to shore
Let Earth awake and sing
The Holy Child whom Mary bore,
The Christ, the Lord, the King!

For lo! The world’s Creator wears
The fashion of a slave:
Our human flesh the Godhead bears,
His creature, man, to save.

He shrank not from the oxen’s stall,
Nor scorned the manger-bed;
And He, whose bounty feedeth all,
At Mary’s breast was fed.

To shepherds poor the Lord most high,
Great Shepherd, was revealed;
While Angel choirs sang joyously
Above the midnight field.

All glory be to God above,
And on the Earth be peace
To all who long to taste His love,
Till time itself shall cease.

Christmas Carols:
While Shepherds Watched
Their Flocks By Night

Nahum Tate 1652-1715
Anglo-Irish poet, hymnist & lyricist

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The Angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

“Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind;
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.”

“To you, in David’s town, this day,
Is born of David’s line,
A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign:”

“The Heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid.”

Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of Angels, praising God, and thus
Addressed their joyful song;

“All glory be to God on high,
And on the Earth be peace;
Good-will henceforth from Heaven to men
Begin and never cease.”

Christmas Carols:
Joy To The World, The Lord Is Come

Isaac Watts 1674-1748
English minister & prolific hymnist

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let Earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns!
Let all their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.

Christmas Carols:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 

Charles Wesley 1707-1788
English Anglican cleric & hymnist

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free,
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the Earth Thou art,
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Christmas Carols:
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Charles Wesley 1707-1788
English Anglican cleric & hymnist

Hark! The herald Angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.
Peace on Earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! The herald Angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold Him come.
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail, the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel:
Hark! The herald Angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail, the Heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of Earth,
Born to give them second birth:
Hark! The herald Angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christmas Carols:
Away In A Manger

Unknown

Away in a manger, no crib for a 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 Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky,
And stay by my side until 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 fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.

Christmas Poems

Christmas Quotes

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