We have created a collection of classic Christmas carols with their lyrics and brief history. These songs are great for creating new holiday family traditions as well as for use in your Christmas pageant or church program. Christmas carols were originally created for use in church services in the 12th century by St. Francis of Assisi. They usually relate mainly to the Nativity. We will continue adding to this list of Christmas Carol song lyrics so be sure to check back from time to time. Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Find Christmas Carol lyrics for:

O Holy Night
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Away in a Manger
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
O Little Town of Bethlehem
 

Title: O Holy Night
Written By: Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure
Composed By: Adolphe Adam (1847)

Brief History: A French wine merchant and poet, Placide Cappeau, wrote a Christmas poem at the request of a parish priest which he titled "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians). In 1847, his friend Adophe Adam composed music for it and in 1855 John Sullivan Dwight, a Unitarian minister, translated the carol from French to the Christmas carol version we sing today. The song reflects the birth of Jesus Christ and of mankind's redemption.

Lyrics:
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Title: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Written By: Charles Wesley
Composed By: William H. Cummings (1855)

Brief History: Not the version we sing today, this Christmas carol first appeared in the 1739 collection of Hymns and Sacred Poems written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley founder of the Methodist church. He had originally requested and received slow and solemn music for his lyrics as he was a melancholy man.  The more joyous and upbeat version that is sung today was the result of English musician William H. Cummings who adapted Felix Mendelssohn's secular music from the cantata Festgensang which he composed to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press.

Lyrics:
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Title: Away in a Manger
Written By: Unknown
Composed By: William J. Kirkpatrick (1895)

Brief History: Usually the first Christmas carol that children learn, the song was originally published in 1885 with two verses in the 'Little Children's Book for Schools and Families', an Evangelical Lutheran Sunday School collection. It was later edited by James R. Murray who titled the song "Away in a Manger" and set it to a tune called "St. Kilda" by J.E. Clark. Sometimes word circulates that this song was written by German reformer Martin Luther, but research has proven that this is no more than a fable.

Lyrics:
Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

Title: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Written By: Unknown
Composed By: Unknown

Brief History: This English traditional Christmas carol was published by William B. Sandys in 1833 with the author being unknown. It is described as a "new Christmas carol" on a circa 1760 broadsheet which is the as-yet earliest known publication of the carol. This suggests its original is actually in the mid-18th century. Charles Dickens also referenced the song in A Christmas Carol (1843).

Lyrics:
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might."
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Title: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Written By: Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)
Composed By: Lewis Redner (1831-1908)

Brief History: This popular Christmas carol was written by Phillips Brooks, an Episcopal priest in Philadelphia. He became inspired in 1865 after his visit to the Palestinian city of Bethlehem. It was said that he enjoyed the night view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine. Within three years, he wrote a poem for his church and asked his organist, Lewis Redner, to compose the melody for the Sunday school children's choir.

Lyrics:
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

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