The Lindsay Family
Christmas Carols

Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

And through all his wondrous childhood
He would honour and obey
Love, and watch the lowly maiden
In whose gentle arms he lay
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as he.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.

2. 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 bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing   The Baby awakes
But little Lord Jesus   No crying He makes
I love You, Lord Jesus   Look down from the sky
And stay by my side   Until morning is nigh

Be near me, Lord Jesus,   I ask You to stay
Close by me forever   And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children   In Your tender care
And fit us for heaven   To live with You there

3. Ding-Dong! Merrily

Ding-dong! Merrily on high
In heav’n the bells are ringing
Ding-dong! Verily the sky
Is riv’n with angel singing

Gloria Hosanna in excelsis
Gloria Hosanna in excelsis

E’en so here below, below
Let steeple bells be swung-en
And io-io-io
By priest and people sung-en

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers
May you beautifully rhyme
Your eve’time song, ye singers

4. God rest you merry, gentlemen (1,2,5)

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born up-on this day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came,
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same,
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the lord sing praises
All you with-in this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
The holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

5. O little town of Bethlehem (1,3,4)

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

6. Good King Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the Feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gathering winter fuel

(men) Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou knowst it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
(women) Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes fountain.

(men) Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I shall see him dine
When we bear them thither.
(all) Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude winds wild lament
And the bitter weather

(women) Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how
I can go no longer.
(men) Mark my footsteps, good my page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shall find the winters rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.

(all) In his masters step he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye, who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.

7. Hark! The herald angels sing

Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born king

Christ, by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come
Offspring of a virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the God-head see,
Hail th’incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born king

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born king

8. I saw three ships (1,2,3,6,7,9)

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas day in the morning ?

Our Saviour, Christ, and His Lady,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
Our Saviour, Christ, and His Lady,
On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the angels in Heaven shall sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
And all the angels in Heaven shall sing
On Christmas day in the morning.

And let us all rejoice and sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day,
And let us all rejoice and sing
On Christmas day in the morning.
On Christmas day in the morning.

9. In the bleak mid-winter (Darke)

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain,
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty — Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom Angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel Which adore.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am? —
If I were a Shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part, —
Yet what I can I give Him, —
Give my heart.

10. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

It came upon a 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 men
From heaven’s all gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring; –
Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife,
And hear the angels sing!

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 the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing

11. Coventry Carol

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling for whom we sing,
“Bye bye, lully, lullay?”

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.

Herod the king, in his raging,
Chargèd he hath this day
His men of might in his own sight
All young children to slay.

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.

That woe is me, poor child, for thee
And ever mourn and may
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
“Bye bye, lully, lullay.”

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.

12. 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
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
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
All glory in the highest
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!

Adeste fidelis (Latin Version)

Adeste Fideles laeti triumphantes,
Veníte, veníte in Bethlehem.
Natum videte, Regem Angelorum:
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum

Deum de Deo, lumen de lúmine,
gestant puellae viscera
Deum verum, genitum non factum:
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum

Cantet nunc io chorus Angelórum
cantet nunc aula caelestium:
Gloria in excelsis Deo:
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum

Ergo qui natus, die hodierna
Jesu, tibi sit glória
Patris aeterni Verbum caro factum:
Veníte adoremus,
Veníte adoremus
Veníte adoremus Dóminum

13. O come, O come Emmanuel

O come, o come Emmanuel,
Redeem thy captive Israel,
That into exile drear is gone,
Far from the face of God’s dear Son.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou branch of Jesse, draw
The quarry from the lion’s claw;
From the dread caverns of the grave,
From nether hell, thy people save.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring bright
Pour on our souls thy healing light;
Dispel the long night’s lingering gloom,
And pierce the shadows of the tomb.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

[In Latin]

Veni, Veni Emmanuel!
Captivum solve Israel!
Qui gemit in exsilio,
Privatus Dei Filio.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, O Jesse virgula,
Ex hostis tuos ungula,
De specu tuos tartari
Educ et antro barathri.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, Veni O Oriens!
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

14. Sussex Carol

On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring (repeat)
News of great joy, news of great mirth
News of our merciful King’s birth

Then why should men on earth be so sad?
Since our Redeemer made us glad (repeat)
When from our sin he set us free
All for to gain our liberty?

When sin departs before His grace
Then life and health come in its place (repeat)
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the newborn King

All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night (repeat)
“Glory to God and peace to men
Now and for evermore, amen!”

15. I wonder as I wander

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
That Jesus my Saviour did come for to die
For poor on’ry people like you and like I
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus t’was 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

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die
For poor on’ry people like you and like I
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

16. Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

[In German]

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb’ aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund’.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

17. Il est ne le divin enfant

Il est né le divin enfant
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes
Il est né le divin enfant
Chantons tous son avènement.

Depuis plus de quatre mille ans
Nous le promettaient les prophètes
Depuis plus de quatre mille ans
Nous attendions cet heureux temps

Il est né le divin enfant
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes
Il est né le divin enfant
Chantons tous son avènement

Une étable est son logement
Un peu de paille est sa couchette
Une étable est son logement
Pour un Dieu quel abaissement

Il est né le divin enfant
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes
Il est né le divin enfant
Chantons tous son avènement

18. Minuit! Chrétiens,

Minuit! Chrétiens, c’est l’heure solennelle
Où l’homme Dieu descendit jusqu’à nous
Pour effacer la tache originelle
Et de son père arrêter le courroux
Le monde entier tressaille d’espérance
A cette nuit qui lui donne un sauveur
Peuple, à genoux, attends ta délivrance
Noël! Noël! Voici le Rédempteur!
Noël! Noël! Voici le Rédempteur!

De notre foi que la lumière ardente
Nous guide tous au berceau de l’Enfant
Comme autrefois, une étoile brillante
Y conduisit les chefs de l’Orient
Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche
Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur,
A votre orgueil c’est de là qu’un Dieu prêche
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur!
Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur!

Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave
La Terre est libre et le ciel est ouvert
Il voit un frère où n’était qu’un esclave
L’amour unit ceux qu’enchaînait le fer
Qui lui dira notre reconnaissance?
C’est pour nous tous qu’il naît, qu’il souffre et meurt
Peuple, debout! chante ta délivrance
Noël! Noël! Chantons le Rédempteur!
Noël! Noël! Chantons le Rédempteur!

19. In Dulci Jubilo

In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage shew;
Our heart’s joy reclineth
In praesepio
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio
Alpha es et O!
Alpha es et O!

O Jesu parvule,
I yearn for thee alway;
Hear me I beseech thee
O Puer optime,
My prayer let it reach thee
O princeps gloriae!
Trahe me post te!
Trahe me post te!

O Patris caritas
O Nate lenitas
Deep were we stained
Per nostra criminal
But thou hast for us gained
Coelorum gaudia
O that we were there

20. Personent Hodie

Personent hodie voces puerulæ
Laudantes jucundė qui nobis est natus,
Summo Deo datus,
Et de vir-vir-vir, et de vir-vir-vir,
et de virgineo ventre procreatus.

In mundo nascitur, pannis involvitur,
Præsepi ponitur stabulo brutorum,
Rector supernorum,
Perdidit-dit-dit perdidit-dit-dit
Perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.

Magi tres venerunt, parvulum inquirunt,
Bethelhem adeunt stellulam sequendo,
ipsum adorando
Aurum, thus thus thus, Aurum, thus thus thus
Aurum, thus et myrrham ei offerendo.

Omnes clericuli, pariter pueri,
Cantent ut angeli, advenisti mundo,
Laudes tibi fundo.
Ideo, o, o, Ideo, o, o
Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.

21. The Holly and the Ivy

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

The holly bears a blossom
As white as any flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

22. Gabriel’s Message

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
” All hail,” said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favoured lady,” Gloria!

“For know a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honour thee,
thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
most highly favoured lady,” Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
” To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said,
” my soul shall laud and magnify his holy Name.”
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
in Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say–
” Most highly favoured lady,” Gloria!

23. The First Nowell

The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

They looked 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. [Refrain]
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

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. [Refrain]
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

This star drew nigh to the northwest;
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. [Refrain]
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

24. We three kings

We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.