Lyrics and Translations
O Come, All Ye Faithful
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!
Refrain:
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him;
O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!
God of God, Light of Light,
Lo! he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten not created; [Refrain]
See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps:[Refrain]
Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!
Glory to God, in the highest! [Refrain]
Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
It’s the most wonderful time of the year,
With the kids jingle belling,
And everyone telling you “be of good cheer,”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
It’s the hap-happiest season of all,
With those holiday greetings,
And gay happy meetings when friends come to call,
It’s the hap-happiest season of all.
There’ll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow.
There’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories
Of Christmases long, long ago.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year,
There’ll be much mistletoeing
And hearts will be glowing, when loved ones are near.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Esta noche
Esta noche nace un Niño
Entre la escarcha y el hielo.
Quien pudiera, Niño mío
Vestirte de terciopelo.
Alegri, alegri, alegria,
Alegri, alegri, que placer!
Refrain:
Esta noche nace un Niño
En el portal de Belén.
Alegri, alegri, alegria,
Alegri, alegri, que placer!
Esta noche nace un Niño,
En el portal de Belén.
La Virgen está lavando
Con u poco de jabon
Se le picaron las manos,
Manos de mi corazón.
Alegri, alegri, alegria,
Alegri, alegri, que placer! [Refrain]
Tonight a child is born
Between the frost and the ice.
Who could, my child
Dress you in velvet.
Joy, joy, joy,
Joy, joy, what a pleasure!
Refrain:
Tonight a child is born
In a manger in Bethlehem.
Joy, joy, joy,
Joy, joy, what a pleasure!
Tonight a child is born
In a manger in Bethlehem.
The Virgin Mary washes
With a little soap,
It stings the hands,
Hands of my heart.
Joy, joy, joy,
Joy, joy, what a pleasure! [Refrain]
Do You Hear What I Hear
Said the night wind to the little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
‘Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night,
With a tail as big as a kite.
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the tree,
With a voice as big as the sea.<
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A child, a child shivers in the cold
Let us bring him silver and gold.
Said the king to the people everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
A child, a child sleeping in the night,
He will bring us goodness and light.
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
For auld lang syne!
Refrain:
For auld lang syne, ma dear,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
And surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne? [Refrain]
We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared,
Since auld lang syne. [Refrain]
And there’s a trusty hand my friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good will draught,
For aud lang syne. [Refrain]
Go, Tell it on the Mountain
Refrain:
Go, tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
While shepherds kept their watching
O’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light. [Refrain]
The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo, above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior’s birth. [Refrain]
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born,
And brought us God’s salvation
That blessed Christmas morn. [Refrain]
O Magnum Mysterium
O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum
Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum. Alleluia!
O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament,
That animals should see the newborn Lord, lying in a manger!
O blessed virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear
The Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
“I Believe in the Prince of Peace” from Credo
I believe in the Prince of Peace.
I believe that War is Murder.
I believe that armies and navies are at bottom the tinsel and braggadocio of oppression and wrong,
And I believe that the wicked conquest of weaker and darker nations by nations whiter and stronger but foreshadows the death of that strength.
Two Spirituals on the Christmas Star
Refrain:
Behold the star,
Behold the star up yonder,
Behold the star;
It is the star of Bethlehem.
The wise men traveled from the East,
To worship Him, the Prince of Peace.
A song broke forth upon the night,
From angel hosts all robed in white. [Refrain]
Rise up, rise up, rise up, rise up!
There’s a star in the East on Christmas morn;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow,
It will lead to the place where the Saviour’s born;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
Leave your ewes, and leave your rams,
Rise up, shepherd, and follow,
Leave your sheep, and leave your lambs.
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
Refrain:
Follow, follow,
Rise up, shepherd, and follow,
Follow the star to Bethlehem,
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
If you take good heed to the angel’s word,
Rise up, shepherd, and follow,
You’ll forget your flock, you’ll forget your herd.
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
Leave your burdens, lay them down,
Rise up, shepherd, and follow,
For you, that Holy Child will wear a crown.
Rise up, shepherd, and follow. [Refrain]
Rejoice! How Great Our Joy
Good people now rejoice
With heart and soul and voice.
Give ye heed to what I say:
Christ is born this Christmas day.
How great our joy!
Give ye heed to what I say: Rejoice!
Jesus Christ is born today. Rejoice!
He has opened the heavenly door. Rejoice!
We are blessed forever, and ever, and evermore.
How great our joy!
Praise ye the Lord in heav’n on high. Rejoice!
Jingle Bells
Refrain:
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh;
O’er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way!
Bells on bob-tail ring,
Making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight! [Refrain]
Edelweiss
In loving memory of Martha K. Schmidt –
tireless champion, couragious leader and constant friend of the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir
Edelweiss, Edelweiss,
Every morning you greet me.
Small and white, clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me.
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, Edelweiss,
Bless my homeland forever.
Bless this house, bless our food,
Come, o lord and sit with us.
May our hearts glow with peace,
Come with your love to surround us.
Friendship and love may they bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Bless our friends, bless our food,
Bless all mankind forever.
A Spotless Rose
A spotless Rose is blowing
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers’ foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter
And in the dark midnight.
The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest Maid;
For through our God’s great love and might
The blessed babe she bare us|
In a cold, cold winter’s night.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves and
A partridge in a pear tree
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Three french hens…
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Four calling birds…
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Five golden rings…
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying…
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming…
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking…
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing…
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping…
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping…
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming…
Go Where I Send Thee!
Refrain:
Children go where I send thee!
Children, how shall I send thee?
I’m gonna send thee one by one,
One for the little bitty baby
The baby boy who was born in Bethlehem. [Refrain]
I’m gonna send thee two by two
Two for Paul and Silas
One… [Refrain]
I’m gonna send you three by three
Three for the Hebrew children
Two… [Refrain]
I’m gonna send thee six by six
Six for the six when the world was fixed,
Five for bread they did divide
Four for the Gospel writers,
Three for the Hebrew children
Two… [Refrain]
I’m gonna send thee twelve by twelve,
Twelve for the twelve disciples,
‘Leven of ‘em singin’ in heaven,
Ten for the ten commandments,
Nine for the angel choirs divine,
Eight for the eight the flood couldn’t take,
Seven for the day God laid down his head,
Six for the six when the world was fixed,
Five for bread they did divide
Four for the Gospel writers,
Three… [Refrain]
Ding, Dong, Merrily on High!
Ding, dong, merrily on high!
In heav’n the bells are ringing;
Ding dong, verily the sky
Is riven with angels singing.
Refrain:
Gloria! Gloria! Gloria! Gloria!
Gloria, hosannah in excelsis!
Even so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And i-o, i-o, i-o,
By priest and people sungen. [Refrain]
Pray ye dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May ye beautifully rhyme
Your evetime song, ye singers. [Rerain]
In Dulci Jubilo
In dulci jubilo (In sweet joy)
Let us our homage show,
Our heart’s joy reclineth
In praesepio (In a manger)
And like a bright star shineth,
Matris in gremio. (In your mother’s lap)
Alpha es et O. (Beginning and ending)
O Jesu parvule! (O infant Jesus)
I yearn for thee alway!
Hear me, I beseech thee,
O Puer optime! (O best of boys)
My pray’r let it reach thee,
O Princeps gloriae; (O Prince of Glory)
Trahe me post te. (Draw me after you)
O Patris caritas! (O love of the Father)
O Nati lenitas! (O mercy of the Son)
Deeply were we stained,
Per nostra crimina; (Through our sins)
But thou hast for us gained
Coelorum gaudia! (The joys of heaven)
O that we were there!
Ubi sunt gaudia, (Where are joys)
Where, if they be not there?
There are angels singing
Nova cantica! (New songs)
And there the bells are ringing
In regis curia (In the King’s courts)
O that we were there,
In dulci jubilo! (In sweet joy)
The Dream Isaiah Saw
Lions and oxen will sleep in the hay,
Leopards will join with the lambs as the play,
Wolves will be pastured with cows in the glade,
Blood will not darken the earth that God made.
Little child whose bed is straw,
Take new lodgings in my heart.
Bring the dream Isaiah saw:
Life redeemed from fang and claw.
Peace will pervade more that forest and field:
God will transfigure the violence concealed
Deep in the heart and in systems of gain,
Ripe for the judgment the Lord will ordain.
Little child whose bed is straw,
Take new lodgings in my heart.
Bring the dream Isaiah saw:
Justice purifying law.
Nature reordered to match God’s intent,
Nations obeying the call to repent,
All of creation completely restored,
Filled with the knowledge and love of the Lord.
Little child whose bed is straw,
Take new lodgings in my heart.
Bring the dream Isaiah saw:
Knowledge, wisdom, worship, awe.
Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah)
Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord,
and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah!