Author: Hilton Kean Jones

Composer and performer, retired college music professor, lyricist.

Midweek Hymns Advent 1 2020

Four completely different style Advent/Christmas songs today: an early music sound, a gentle folk song, a street-corner salvation band, and even a sing-a-long with the words on the screen.

NCH #101 Comfort, Comfort O My People
NCH #105 Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear
NCH #106 My heart Sings Out With Joyful Praise
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

  1. I heard the bells on Christmas day
    Their old familiar carols play,
    And wild and sweet the words repeat
    Of peace on earth, good will to all.
  2. I thought how, as the day had come,
    The belfries of all Christendom
    Had rolled along th’unbroken song
    Of peace on earth, good will to all.
  3. Till ringing, singing on its way
    The world revolved from night to day,
    A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
    Of peace on earth, good will to all.
  4. And in despair I bowed my head
    “There is no peace on earth,” I said,
    “For hate is strong and mocks the song
    Of peace on earth, good will to all.”
  5. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
    “God is not dead, nor doth God sleep;
    The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
    With peace on earth, good will to all.”

copyright: public domain Words: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1864.; modified Music: ‘Waltham (Calkin)’ John B. Calkin, 1872.