Christmas Song (John Bacchus Dykes)

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• (Posted 2025-03-08)  CPDL #84128:   

Editor: Douglas Walczak (submitted 2025-03-08).   Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 91 kB   Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Christmas Song
Composer: John Bacchus Dykes
Lyricist: William Bright
Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Carol

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1871 in Christmas Carols New and Old (John Stainer), Edition 2, no. 34
Description: 

Original text and translations

English text

1 Once again, O blessed time,
Thankful hearts embrace thee;
If we lost thy festal chime,
What could e'er replace thee?
What could e'er replace thee?
Change will darken many a day,
Many a bond dissever;
Many a joy shall pass away,
But the "Great Joy" never!

2 Once again the Holy Night
Breathes its blessing tender;
Once again the Manger Light
Sheds its gentle splendour;
O could tongues by Angels taught
Speak our exultation
In the Virgin's Child that brought
All mankind Salvation!

3 Welcome Thou to souls athirst,
Fount of endless pleasure:
Gates of Hell may do their worst,
While we clasp our Treasure:
Welcome, though an age like this
Puts Thy Name on trial,
And the Truth that makes our bliss
Pleads against denial!

4 Yea, if others stand apart,
We will press the nearer;
Yea, O best fraternal Heart,
We will hold Thee dearer:
Faithful lips shall answer thus
To all faithless scorning,
"Jesus Christ is God with us,
Born on Christmas morning."

5 So we yield thee all we can,
Worship, thanks and blessing;
Thee true God, and Thee true Man.
On our knees confessing;
While Thy Birth-day morn we greet
With our best devotion,
Bathe us, O most true and sweet!
In Thy Mercy's ocean.