Author Topic: Add: In Nightly Stillness


dmcg

Posted - 17 Aug 04 - 01:18 pm

In nightly stillness comes a voice that rings:
"Rise now ye shepherds, greet the King of Kings!
Leave the flocks behind a-feeding,
On to Bethlem go a-speeding,
Christ is born today."

Swiftly they went and found the lovely Babe
Laid in a manger as the voice had said.
Round they gathered, humbly kneeling,
Cried aloud with joyful feeling
"God has come to us!"

"Hail thee! O Saviour, welcome, welcome be.
Four thousand years the world expected Thee.
Kings and prophets waited vainly,
Us thou hast prefered plainly,
In this humble shed."


Source: Singing Together, Autumn 1966, BBC Publications


Notes:

From 'Five Fantasies on Polish Christmas Carols' (Chappell).





dmcg

Posted - 17 Aug 04 - 01:22 pm

This appears in Singing Together, Autumn 1966 edition.



While it is always a mistake to read much into a single phrase of a song, I wonder if that reference to 4000 years waiting is connected to Bishop Ussher's dating of the age of the earth?




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