Composer: Gustav Holst
Author: Gustav Holst
Publisher: Novello and Company, Limited
Voicing: SATB
Pages: 15
Copies: 26
Publish Date: 1910
Lyrics
Good Christian men, rejoice. With heart and soul, and voice. Give ye heedd to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today. Ox and ass before Him bow, and He is in the manger now. Christ in born today! God rest you mercy gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, Remember Chirst our savior was born on Chirstmas day, To save us all from woe and sin, WHen we were gone astray, O.. Tidings of comfort and joy. In Bethlehem, in Jewry, This blessed Babe was born, and laid within a manger, upon that holy morn. The which His mother, Mary, did nothing take his scorn. O.. tidings of comfort and joy. Good Christman men rejoice, with heart and soul and voice. Now hear ye of endless bliss: Joy!. Jesus Christ was born for this! He hath oped the heav'nly door, And man is blessed evermore. Christ was born for this! Come, ye lofty, come, ye lowly, Let your songs of gladness ring; In a stable lies the Holy, In a manger rests the King, See, in Mary's arms reposing, Christ by highest heav'n adored: Come, your circle round Him closing, Pious hearts that love the Lord. The first No-well the angels did say, Was to certain poor shephards in fields as they lay. In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep. Come, your circle round Him closing, Pious heats that love the lord, Robes the Child your hearts adore: He the lord of all salvation, Shares what your want, is weak and poor, Oxen round about behold them; Rafters naked, cold and bare, see the shepherds, God has told them that the Prince of Life lies there. Come, ye children, blithe and merry, This one Child your model make, Chirstmas holy, left and berry, all be prized for His dear sake; Come, ye gentle hearts, and tender, come ye spirits, keen and bold; all in your homage render, weak and mighty, young and old. High above a star is singing, and the wisemen haste from far, come, glad hearts, and spirits pining. For you all has risen the star. Let us bring our poor oblations, Thanks and love and faith and praise: Come, ye people, come, ye nations, all in all draw nigh to gaze. Christ was born to save!
Notes
Has a mezzo-suprano/contralto, bass solo.