Carols for Christmas

Carols for Christmas Lyrics

1. Joy to the World (in progress, for 2027)

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.

2. In Dulci Jubilo (in progress, for 2027)

Note: This carol traditionally blends Latin and English (or German) phrases.

In dulci jubilo (In sweet rejoicing)
Let us our homage show!
Our heart's joy reclineth
In praesepio (In a manger)
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio (In a mother's lap)
Alpha es et O! (Thou art Alpha and Omega!)

O Jesu parvule (O tiny Jesus)
My heart is sore for Thee!
Hear me, I beseech Thee,
O Puer optime (O best of boys)
My prayer let it reach Thee,
O Princeps gloriae (O Prince of glory)
Trahe me post te! (Draw me after Thee!)

O Patris caritas! (O love of the Father!)
O Nati lenitas! (O gentleness of the Son!)
Deeply were we stained
Per nostra crimina (By our sins)
But Thou hast for us gained
Coelorum gaudia (The joys of heaven)
O that we were there!

Ubi sunt gaudia (Where are joys)
If that they be not there?
There are angels singing
Nova cantica (New songs)
And there the bells are ringing
In Regis curia (In the King's court)
O that we were there!

3. There Is No Rose

Note: A 15th-century English carol blending Middle English and Latin.

There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bare Jesu;
Alleluia.

For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in little space;
Res miranda (A wondrous thing).

By that rose we may well see
That He is God in persons three,
Pari forma (Of equal form).

The angels sangen to the shepherds too:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gaudeamus (Let us rejoice).

Leave we all this worldly mirth,
And follow we this joyful birth;
Transeamus (Let us go over).

4. O Holy Night (2027 premiere)

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,
Till 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.

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 Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

5. O Come, All Ye Faithful (2028)

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:

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!Glory to God in the highest:

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:

6. 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 Savior is born,
Christ the Savior 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.

7. The First Noel

The first Noel 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:

Refrain
Noel , Noel, Noel, Noel
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.

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.

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.

Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense.

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.

Translation of Carols for Christmas

Program Notes for Carols for Christmas