It Came upon the Midnight Clear

1.

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth

To touch their harps of gold:

“Peace on the earth, good will to all

From heav’n’s all gracious King;”

The world in solemn stillness lay,

To hear the angels sing.

2.

Still through the cloven skies they come,

With peaceful wings unfurled,

And still their heav’nly music floats

O’er all the weary world:

Above its sad and lowly plains

They bend on hov’ring wing,

And ever o’er its Babel sounds

The blessed angels sing.

3.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,

Whose forms are bending low,

Who toil along the climbing way

With painful steps and slow,

Look now! for glad and golden hours

Come swiftly on the wing:

O rest beside the weary road

And hear the angels sing.

4.

For, lo, the days are hastening on,

By prophet bards foretold,

When with the ever-circling years

Comes ’round the age of gold;

When peace shall over all the earth

Its ancient splendors fling,

And all the world give back the song

Which now the angels sing.