The Everything Family Christmas Book (41 page)

1. O Christmas Tree,
O Christmas Tree,
How steadfast are your branches!
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
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
That constant faith
and hope sublime
Lend strength and
comfort through all time.
O Christmas Tree,
O Christmas Tree,
Your boughs can
teach a lesson

O Come, All Ye Faithful.
(Adeste Fidelis)

Lyrics: (?)John Francis Wade (1712–1786)
Music: (?)John Reading (d. 1692)

1. 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!

2. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
(Refrain)

3. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
(Refrain)

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Lyrics: Latin, 12th century, translated by John M. Neale (1818–1866)

Music: Plainsong, 12th century

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
     Shall come to thee, O Israel!

2. O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
(Refrain)

O Holy Night

Lyrics: Cappeau de Roquemaure
Music: Adolph Charles Adam (1803–1856)

1. O holy night! the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world, in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d, and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night, O night divine!

2. Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from the Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;
He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger;
Behold your King! Before the Lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King!
before Him bend!

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Lyrics: Phillips Brooks (1835–1893)
Music: Lewis H. Redner (1831–1908)

1. 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.

2. For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to all the earth.

3. How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The Dear Christ enters in.

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

Rise Up, Shepherd and Follow

Lyrics and Music: African American Spiritual

There’s a star in the East on Christmas morn,
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
It will lead to the place where the Savior’s born;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
Leave your sheep and leave your lambs;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
Leave your ewes and leave your rams;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
Follow, follow!
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!
Follow the star of Bethlehem;
Rise up, shepherd, and follow!

Silent Night

Lyrics: Joseph Mohr (1792–1848)
Music: Franz Xavier Gruber (1787–1863)

1. 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.

2. Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav’nly hosts sing alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!

3. Silent night, holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light!
With the angels, let us sing
Alleluia to our King!
Christ the Savior is here,
Jesus the Savior is here.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Lyrics and Music: Traditional English

1. On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

2. On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.

3. On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.

4. On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.

5. On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.

6. On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four calling birds …