Christmas Songs, Carols & Music Lyrics
Lyrics and music notes about the Christmas song 'Hark! the Herald Angels Sing'  

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

(1739 )
 
Walking to church on Christmas morning 1739, Methodist clergyman Charles Wesley was inspired by the ringing bells to write a piece he called 'For Christmas Day'.  It began 'Hark, how all the welkin rings'.  Yuck!  Wesley's poem was changed over the years with a friend, George Whitefield, changing the first line to 'Hark! the herald angels sing'.  Wesley didn't like people changing his lyrics and he also wanted slow and solemn music for them.  But in 1857 William H. Cummings took the changed lyrics and adapted a lively Felix Mendelssohn tune commemorating the Gutenberg printing press to them.  Mendelssohn didn't think his tune was right for sacred lyrics.  Although Wesley and Mendelssohn wouldn't, everyone else seems to like this hymn!
Lyrics (below):  Charles Wesley Music:  Felix Mendelssohn arr. W. Cummings
 


Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

(1739 )
Lyrics:  Charles Wesley
Music:  Felix Mendelssohn arr. W. Cummings

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconcil'd
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

Christ by highest heav'n 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 man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n 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!

 
 
 

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