O little town of Bethlehem (Traditional)
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See also the Christmas Songbook
- Editor: Edward L. Stauff (added 2004-05-20). Score information: Letter, 1 pages, kbytes Copyright: Personal
- Edition notes: "Forest Green" and "St. Louis" tunes available in two separate scores.
- Editor: Rafael Ornes (added 1999-12-07). Score information: 20 kbytes Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: tune: "Forest Green"
General Information
Title: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Composer: Traditional
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Carol
Language: English
Instruments: a cappella
Published:
Description: For obvious reasons, the final verse is traditionally only sung on Christmas Day.
External websites:
CyberHymnal entry for O Little Town of Bethlehem:
Original text and translations
English text
- 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.
- O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,
- and praises sing to God the King and peace to men on earth;
- For Christ is born of Mary; and, gathered all above,
- While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondring love'.
- 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.
Lyrics: Phillips Brooks, 1867
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