It came upon the midnight clearThat glorious song of oldFrom angels bending near the earthWith news of joy foretold"Peace on the earth, good will to menFrom heaven's all gracious KingThe world in solemn stillness layTo hear the angels singStill through the cloven skies they comeWith peaceful wings unfurledAnd still their heavenly music floatsOver all the weary worldAbove its sad and lowly plainsOld echoes plaintive ringAnd ever over its Babel soundsThe blessed angels singYet with the woes of sin and strifeThe world hath suffered longBeneath the angel-strain have rolledTwo thousand years of wrongAnd man, at war with man, hears notThe love song which they bringO hush the noise, ye men of strifeAnd hear the angels singO ye, beneath life's crushing loadWhose forms are bending lowWho toil along the climbing wayWith painful steps and slowLook now! for glad and golden hoursCome swiftly on the wingO rest beside the weary roadAnd hear the angels singFor lo! the days are hastening onBy prophet bards foretoldWhen, with the ever-circling yearsShall come the Age of GoldWhen peace shall over all the earthIts ancient splendors flingAnd all the world give back the songWhich now the angels sing
