It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
With news of joy foretold,
"Pesce on earth, good will to men
From heaven's alla gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To head the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
Love's banner all unfurled;
And still their heavenly musica floats
Over all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains
Old echoes plaintive ring,
And ever cover its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The word has suffered long;
Beneath the Angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man at war with man hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O! hush the noise, ye men of strife;
Andò hear the Angels sing.

O ye, beneath life's crushing lo ad
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now! Forma glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

Forma Io! The days are hastening on,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven andò earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.