It came upon the midnight clearThat glorious song of oldFrom angels bending near the earthTo touch their harps of gold!Peace on the earth, good will to menFrom heaven's all gracious King!The world in solemn stillness layTo hear the angels singStill through the cloven skies they comeWith peaceful wings unfurledAnd still their heavenly music floatsO'er all the weary world;Above its sad and lowly plainsThey bend on hovering wingAnd ever o'er its Babel soundsThe blessed angels singYet with te woes of sin and strifeThe world hath suffered long;Beneath the angel-strain have rolledTwo thousand years of wrong;And man, at war with man, hears notThe love song which they bring:O hush the noise, ye men of strifeAnd hear the angels singFor lo! the days are hastening onBy prophet bards foretoldWhen, with the ever-circling yearsShall come the Age of Gold;When peace shall over all the earthIts ancient splendors flingAnd all the world give back the songWhich now the angels sing
