"Christmas Instrumentals Syllabic Version"

Syllabic legend:
[...] hold   [(Anticipate)]   [~] syllables   ['] monosyllabic   [-] emphasized 



"O Holy Night"
French words : Placide Cappeau 1847
English translation : D.S.Dwight
Music : Adolphe Adam


1- O holy night, the stars are brightly shi...ning;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pi...ning,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
(A) thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
(for) yonder breaks a new and glor'ious morn.
Fall... on your knees..., O hear... the angel voices!
O ni~ight divine, O~o night when Christ was born!
O night..., O night, O night, O night divine!


2- Led by the light of faith serenely bea...ming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of'a star swe~etly glea...ming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
(The) King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
(In) all our tri-als born to be our Friend!
He... knows our need... our weak...ness is no stranger.
Beho~old your King; be~efore Him lowly bend!
Behold... your King..., before Him lowly bend!


3- Truly He taught (us) lo~ove one ano...ther;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break - for the slave our bro...ther
(And) in His Name all oppression shall cease.
(Sweet) hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
All within us praise His holy Name!
Christ... is the Lord...! O praise... His name forever!
His pow...er and glo...o~ory e...vermore proclaim! 
His pow...er... and glo~ory evermore proclaim!
His pow...er... and glo~ory evermore proclaim!


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"What Child Is This?"
William Chatterton Dix 1865
(*legend has it that this was the original tune for
"Greensleeves" a song written by a sailor.
adapted for Christmas) 
  

1- What child is this, who~o, laid to rest, 
O~on Mary’s lap i~is sleeping? 
Whom angels greet wi~ith anthems sweet, 
Whi~ile she~epherds watch a~are keeping? 

This, thi~i~is Christ the King, 
Who~om shepherds gua~ard and angels sing;  
Haste, ha~aste to bring Him laud, 
The ba~be, the So~on o~of Mary. 
 
2- Why li~ies He in such mean estate 
Whe~ere ox and ass a~are feeding? 
(Good) Christian, fear, fo~or sinners here 
(The) si~i~ilent Word i~is pleading. 

This, thi~i~is Christ the King, 
Who~om shepherds gua~ard and angels sing;  
Haste, ha~aste to bring Him laud, 
The ba~be, the So~on o~of Mary. 

3- So bring Him i~incense, gold, and myrrh, 
Co~ome, peasant, king, to~o own Him; 
(The) King of ki~ings salvation brings; 
Le~et lo~oving hear~earts enthrone Him. 

This, thi~i~is Christ the King, 
Who~om shepherds gua~ard and angels sing;  
Haste, ha~aste to bring Him laud, 
The ba~be, the So~on o~of Mary. 


===



"We Three Kings Of Orient Are"
John H. Hopkins


1- We three kings of Orient are,
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mou~ountain,
following yonder star.


Refrain: 
(O) star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright;
westward leading, still proceding,
guide us to thy perfect light!


2- Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King for ever, ceasing ne~ever
over us all to reign. (Refrain) 

3- Frankincense to offer have I:
incense owns a Deity nigh;
pray'r and praising, gladly rai~aising,
worship him, God Most High. (Refrain) 

4- Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorr'ing, sighing, bleeding, dy~ying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. (Refrain) 

5- Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and Sa~acrifice;
heaven sings alleluia; 
alleluia (the) earth replies. (Refrain) 

===


"Silent Night"
Joseph Mohr / Franz Gruber 1816
(bg version has modulation from Bb to C in 3rd verse)


1- Si~ilent night Ho~oly night, All is calm all is bright 
'Round yon vi~irgin Mother and Child 
Holy infant so tender and mild 
Sleep in heavenly pe~eace Sle~eep in heavenly peace 

2- Si~ilent night Ho~oly night, Shepherds quake at the sight. 
Glories stre~eam from heaven afar, 
Heav'nly ho~osts sing Alleluia; 
Christ the Savior is born; Chri~ist the Savior is bo~orn. 

3- Si~ilent night Ho~oly night, Son of God, love's pure light. 
Rad'iant be~eams from Thy holy face, 
With the da~awn of redeeming grace, 
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth; Je~esus, Lord, at Thy birth. 

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"It Came Upon The Midnight Clear"
Original Tune : Traditional
2nd version : R.S Willis 1850
Words : E.H. Sears 1846


1- (It) came upo~on the midnight clear, that glorious so~ong of old,
from angels be~ending near the earth to touch their ha~arps of gold:
"Peace on the ear~earth, good will to men, from hea~eaven's all-gracious King".
The world in sol~lemn stillness lay to hear the a~angels sing!

2- (Still) through the clo~oven skies they come with pea~eaceful wi~ings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats, o'er all the weary world.
Above its sa~ad and lowly plains they be~end on hovering wing,
and ever o'er its babble sounds the bless-ed a~angels sing! 

3- (Yet) with the woes of sin and strife the wo~orld has su~uffered long.
Beneath the heavenly strain have rolled two thousand ye~ears of wrong,
and man, at wa~ar with man hears not, the ti~idings which they bring.
O hush the no~oise, ye world of strife, and hear the a~angels sing!

4- (O) ye, bene~eath life's crushing load, whose fo~orms are be~ending low,
who toil alo~ong the climbing way, with painful steps and slow,
(look) now! For gla~ad and golden hours come swi~iftly o~on the wing.
O rest besi~ide the weary road. And hear the a~angels sing! 

5- (For) lo! the da~ays are hast'ning on, by pro~ophets se~een of old,
when with the e~ever-circling years shall come the ti~ime foretold;
when pe~eace shall over all the earth, its a~ancient sple~endors fling,
and the whole wo~orld give back the song, which now the a~angels sing. 

===


"Angels We Have Heard On High"
19th Century French Carol


1- Angels we have heard on high. 
Sweetly singing o'er the plains.
And the mountains in reply, 
echoing their joyous strains. 

Glo / o~o~o~o~o / o~o~o~o~o / 
o~o~o~o~oria... in excelsis Deo 
Glo / o~o~o~o~o / o~o~o~o~o / 
o~o~o~o~oria... in excelsis De~e~e-o 


2- Shepherds why this jubilee? 
Why your joyous strains prolong? 
What the glad-some tidings be. 
Which inspire your heavenly song? 

Glo / o~o~o~o~o / o~o~o~o~o / 
o~o~o~o~oria... in excelsis Deo 
Glo / o~o~o~o~o / o~o~o~o~o / 
o~o~o~o~oria... in excelsis De~e~e-o 


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"O Come All Ye Faithful"
17th Century Latin Words by John Francis Wade
English Translation by F. Oakley 1841


1- (O) come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O co~ome ye to Be~ethlehem,
Come and behold him, born the king of a~angels: 

Refrain:
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore him,
O come let us adore hi~im, Chri~ist the lord! 

2- Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation.
(O) Sing, all ye citizens of He~eav'n above,
Glory to Go~od i~in the~e hi~i~ighest (Refrain) 

3- Yea, Lord we great thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to the~ee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. (Refrain) 

===


"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
Words by Charles Wesley
Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy


1- Hark! the herald angels si~ing, Glory to the new born King, 
peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! 
Joyful, all ye nations ri~ise, join the triumph of the ski~ies; 
with (th') angelic host proclaim, Christ i~is born in Bethlehem! 
Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory~y to the new born King! 

2- Christ, by highest heav'n adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; 
late in time behold him co~ome, offspring of a virgin's womb. 
Veiled in flesh the Godhead se~ee; hail (th') 'ncarnate Deity, 
pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Je~su~us, our Emmanuel. 
Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory~y to the new born King! 

3- Hail the heav'n'born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! 
Light and life to all he bri~ings, ris'n with healing in his wings. 
Mild he lays his glory by~y, born that we no more may di~ie, 
born to raise us from the earth, born to~o give us second birth. 
Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory~y to the new born King! 
Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory~y to the new born King! 

===
"The First Noel"
17th Century English Carol


1- The~e Fi~irst No~o~el the~e angels did say, 
was to certain poor shepherds in fields whe~ere they
I~in fie~ields whe~ere they la~ay keeping their sheep, 
on a cold winters ni~ight that wa~as so deep. 

Chorus:
No~o~e~el  No~o~el, No~o~e~el  No~o~e...el
Born is the Ki~ing of I~is-rael 

2- The~ey loo~ook~ed up a~and sa~aw a star, 
shining i~in the Ea~ast beyo~ond them far, 
a~and to~o the~e earth i~it ga~ave great light, 
a~and so it continued both day and night. 
(repeat chorus) 

3- A~and by~y the~e light of tha~a~at same star, 
thre~ee wi~ise men ca~ame from (a) country far; 
to~o see~ek for a King wa~as thei~eir intent, 
a~and to~oo fo~o~ollow the star where it went. 
(repeat chorus) 

4- Thi~is sta~ar dre~ew night to~o the~e Northwest, 
o'er Be~ethlehe~em it to~ook it's rest; 
a~and the~ere i~it did bo~oth sto~op and stay, 
ri~ight o'er the pla~ace where Je~e~sus lay. 
(repeat chorus) 

5- The~en e~enter-ed in tho~ose thre~ee wise men, 
fu~ull reverently~y upo~on their knees; 
a~and o~offer-ed the~ere... in His presence, 
the~eir go~o~old, myr~yhh and fra~ankincense. 
(repeat chorus) 

===




"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
17th Century English Carol


1- (God) rest ye merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Sa~avior Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan's pow'r When we were gone astray. 

Chorus:
O~o tidings of co~omfort and joy, Comfort and joy;
O~o ti~idings of co~omfort and joy! 

2- In Bethlehem, in Jewry, This bless-ed Babe was born,
And laid within a ma~anger Upon this bless-ed morn;
To which His mother Ma~ary Did nothing take in scorn.
(repeat chorus) 

3- From God our heav'nly Fa~ather A bless-ed angel came;
And unto certain she~epherds Brought tidings of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born The son of God by name.
(repeat chorus) 

4- Fear not, then, said the a~angel, Let nothing you afright.
This day is born a Sa~avior Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him From Satan's pow'r and might.
(repeat chorus) 

5- The shepherds at those ti~idings Rejoic-ed much in mind,
And left their flocks a-fee~eeding In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethl'm straightaway This bless-ed Babe to find. 
(repeat chorus) 

6- But when to Bethlehem they came Where our dear Savior lay,
They found Him in a ma~anger Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary knee~eeling Unto the Lord did pray.
(repeat chorus) 

7- Now to the Lord sing prai~aises All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Chri~istmas All others doth deface.
(repeat chorus) 


===


"Joy To The World"
Words by Isaac Watts
Music by George F. Handel


1- Joy to the world, the Lord is come! 
Let earth receive her King; let  e-ver-y  hear~ear~eart  prepa~are  hi~im  roo~o~oom, 
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, 
a~and heaven and he~eaven and nature sing. 

2- Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns! 
Let all their songs employ; while fie~ields a~and floo~o~oods, 
rocks, hi~ills a~and pla~a~ains, repeat their sounding joy, 
repeat their sounding joy, re~epeat, repe~eat their sounding joy. 

3- No more let sins and sorrows grow 
nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His ble~essings 
flow, as the curse is fou~ou~ound, flow far as the curse is found, 
flow far as the curse is found, as far as, as fa~ar as the curse is found. 

4- He rules the world with truth and grace 
and makes the nations prove; the glories of his righteousness, 
and wonders of His lo~o~ove, a~a~and wonders of His love, 
a~and wonders of His love, a~and wonders, a~and wo~o~onders of His love.
(And wonders, and wo~o~onders... His... love.)


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"O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)"
18th Century German
(Original Translation?)


1- O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, how steadfast are your braches! 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, how steadfast are your braches! 
Your boughs are green in summer's clime, 
and through the snows of wintertime. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, how steadfast are your branches! 

2- O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, what happiness befalls me. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, what happiness befalls me. 
When oft at joyous Christmas-time, 
your form inspires my song and rhyme. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, what happiness befalls me. 

3- O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, your boughs can teach a lesson. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, your boughs can teach a lesson. 
That constant faith and hope sublime 
lend strength and comfort through the time. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, your boughs can teach a lesson. 

(Modern Translation?) 

1- O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, you stand in verdant beauty. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, you stand in verdant beauty. 
Your boughs are green in summers' glow 
and do not fade in winters' snow. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, you stand in verdant beauty. 

2- O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, much pleasure doth thou bring me. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, much pleasure doth thou bring me. 
For every year the Christmas tree, 
brings to us all both joy and glee. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, much pleasure doth thou bring me. 

3- O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, thy candles shine out brightly. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, thy candles shine out brightly. 
Each bough doth hold its' tiny light, 
that makes each toy to sparkle bright. 
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, thy candles shine out brightly. 

===


"We Wish You A Merry Christmas"
Traditional English Carol
(Original Translation?)


1- We wish you a merry Christmas; We wish you a merry Christmas;
We wish you a merry Christmas; And a happy New Year.
Glad tidings we bring To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas And a happy New Year!


2- Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;
Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; And a cup of good cheer.
Glad tidings we bring To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas And a happy New Year!


3- We won't go until we get some; We won't go until we get some;
We won't go until we get some; So bring some out here!
Glad tidings we bring To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas And a happy New Year!


(bg version has instrumental interlude here)

We wish you a merry Christmas; We wish you a merry Christmas;
We wish you a merry Christmas; 
And a... hap-py... New... Year.... 

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"Here We Come A'Wassailing"
19th Century English Carol


1- Here we come a'wassailing among the leaves so green.
Here we come a'wandering so fai~air to be seen. 

(Chorus)
Love and joy come to you, and to you your wassail too, 
and God bless you and se~end you a Happy Ne~ew Year, 
and God send you a Happy Ne~ew Year. 

2- (Our) wassail cup is ma~ade of the ro~osemary tree, 
(and) so is your bee~e~eer of the be~est bar~arley.
(repeat chorus) 

3- (We're) not the daily be~eggars who beg from door-to-door, 
but we are the neighbors' children you have seen before.
(repeat chorus) 

4- (Good) Master and the Mi~istress as you sit by the fire,
pray for us poor chi~ildren who're wandering in the mire. 
(repeat chorus) 

5- We have got a little purse of ratching leather skin, 
(we) want some of your mo~oney to line it well within. 
(repeat chorus) 

6- (Call) up the butler of this house, put on his golden ring. 
Let him bring a glass of beer, the better we shall sing. 
(repeat chorus) 

7- Bring us out a ta~able and spread it with a cloth. 
Bring us out some mouldy cheese, some of your Christmas loaf. 
(repeat chorus) 

8- (God) bless the Master of this house, like-wise the Mistress too, 
and all the little chi~il-dren that 'round the table go. 
(repeat chorus) 

9- (And) all your kin and ki~infolk that dwell both far and near. 
We wish Merry Christmas and a Happy Ne~ew Year. 
(repeat chorus) 

===