Monday, December 20, 2004

Who is He in Yonder Stall

Hymn lyrics and Music by Benjamin R. Hanby

Verse 1

Who is He in yonder stall
At Whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?

Chorus

’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story!
’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!
At His feet we humbly fall,
Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all!

Verse 2

Who is He the people bless
For His words of gentleness?
Who is He to Whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?

Chorus

Verse 3

Who is He that stands and weeps
At the grave where Laz’rus sleeps?
Who is He the gath’ring throng
Greet with loud triumphant song?

Chorus

Verse 4

Lo! at midnight, who is He
Prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?

Chorus

Verse 5

Who is He that from the grave
Comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from His throne
Rules through all the world alone?

Chorus


Monday, December 13, 2004

What Child is This

Hymn lyrics by William Chatterton Dix,
Music: Traditional (Greensleeves)

Verse 1

What Child is this who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

Refrain

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Verse 2

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Refrain

Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Verse 3

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Refrain

Raise, raise the song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Sunday, December 12, 2004

Sweet Little Jesus Boy

Song lyrics and Music by Robert MacGimsey

Verse 1

Sweet little Jesus Boy,
They made you be born in a manger.
Sweet little Holy Child,
Didn’t know who You was.
Didn’t know you come to save us, Lord;
To take our sins away.
Our eyes was blind, we couldn’t see,
We didn’t know who You was.

Verse 2

Long time ago,
You was born.
Born in a manger low,
Sweet little Jesus Boy.
The world treat You mean, Lord;
Treat me mean, too.
But that’s how things is down here,
We don’t know who You is.

Verse 3

You done showed us how,We is a-tryin’.
Master, You done showed us how,
Even when you’s dyin’.
Just seem like we can’t do right,
Look how we treated You.
But please, sir, forgive us Lord,
We didn’t know ’twas You.

Verse 4

Sweet little Jesus Boy,
Born long time ago.
Sweet little Holy Child,
And we didn’t know who You was.

Thursday, December 09, 2004

I Wonder as I Wander

Traditional Appalachian Carol
Compiled by John J. Niles, 1892-1980

Verse 1

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor orn’ry people like you and like I—
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

Verse 2

When Mary birthed Jesus, ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With Wise Men, and farmers, and shepherds, and all;
But high from God’s Heaven, a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

Verse 3

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have had it, ’cause He was the King.

Verse 4

(Repeat first verse.)

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

The Holly and the Ivy

Traditional Medieval Carol

Verse 1

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.

Chorus

O the rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.

Verse 2

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Savior.

Chorus

Verse 3

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood;
Any Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good.

Chorus

Verse 4

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas day in the morn.

Chorus

Verse 5

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.

Chorus

Verse 6

(Repeat first verse.)

Chorus

Sunday, December 05, 2004

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

Hymn lyrics by Fanny Crosby,
Music by John R. Sweney

Verse 1

Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus,
Sang as they welcomed His birth.
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”

Chorus

Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.

Verse 2

Fasting alone in the desert,
Tell of the days that are past.
How for our sins He was tempted,
Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
Tell of the sorrow He bore.
He was despised and afflicted,
Homeless, rejected and poor.

Chorus

Verse 3

Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain.
Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
Clearer than ever I see.
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
Love paid the ransom for me.

Chorus


Saturday, December 04, 2004

The First Noel

Traditional English Carol

Verse 1

The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Chorus

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

Verse 2

They lookèd up and saw a star
Shining in the east, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

Chorus

Verse 3

And by the light of that same star,
Three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.

Chorus

Verse 4

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
Over Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.

Chorus

Verse 5

Then did they know assurèdly,
Within that house the King did lie;
One entered in them for to see,
And found the Babe in poverty.

Chorus

Verse 6

Then entered in those Wise Men three,
Full reverently upon the knee,
And offered there, in His presence,
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Chorus

Verse 7

Between an ox stall and an ass,
This Child truly there He was;
For want of clothing they did Him lay
All in a manger among the hay.

Chorus

Verse 8

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Chorus

Verse 9

If we in our time shall do well,
We shall be free from death and hell;
For God hath preparèd for us all
A resting place in general.

Chorus


Friday, December 03, 2004

We Three Kings

Hymn lyrics and Music by John H. Hopkins, Jr.

Verse 1

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Chorus

O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Verse 2

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain;
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever,
Ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

Chorus

Verse 3

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising,
All men1 raising,
Worshipping God on high.

Chorus

Verse 4

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing,
Bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

Chorus

Verse 5

Glorious now behold Him arise:
King and God and sacrifice;

Chorus


1Some hymnals read, “Voices”
2Some hymnals read, “Allelujah, Allelujah, Earth to Heav’n replies.” and others read, “Heav’n signs Allelujah; Allelujah, earth replies.”
Back to lyrics

Thursday, December 02, 2004

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

Hymn lyrics by Emily E. Elliott,
Music by Timothy R. Matthews

Verse 1

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.

Chorus

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Verse 2

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.

Chorus

Verse 3

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.

Chorus

Verse 4

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.

Chorus

Verse 5

When the heav’ns shall ring, and the angels1 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.”

Chorus

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.

1Some hymnals read, “her choirs shall”
back to lyrics