We’ve Been Told a Joyful Thing

We’ve been told a joy­ful thing

News for all the na­tions.

Angels have been heard to sing

Round the shep­herd sta­tions

One in­toned the Glo­ria

Others Al­le­lu­ia;

Peace to all things hu­man;

War no more for true man.

Up and get you quick­ly there

Folk of field and vil­lage!

Over to that sta­ble bare

Up be­yond the til­lage.

There you’ll find a ba­by born

Old be­fore His mo­ther’s morn

Young with dewy splen­dor

Of par­ent stem so ten­der.

So we come to pay our vows:

Hail! God save thee

Ma­ry!

Joseph

man of this poor house

Fortune seems con­tra­ry.

Let us look on Christ the Lord

That was sure the an­gel’s word.

Swathèd in a man­ger

Welcome

ho­ly Strang­er!