Come, ye lofty

General information

Lyricist is Archer Thompson Gurney.

Settings by composers

• Henry Elliot Button SATB
• George J. Elvey SATB
• Gustav Holst SATB

Text and translations

English text 1  Come, ye lofty, come, ye lowly, Let your songs of gladness ring; In a stable lies the Holy, In a manger rests the King: See in Mary’s arms reposing Christ by highest Heav’n adored: Come, your circle round Him closing, Pious hearts that love the Lord. 2  Come ye poor, no pomp of station Robes the Child your hearts adore; He, the Lord of all salvation, Shares your want, is weak and poor: Oxen, round about behold them; Rafters naked, cold, and bare, See the shepherds, God has told them That the Prince of Life lies there. 3  Come, ye children, blithe and merry, This one Child your model make; Christmas holly, leaf, and berry, All be prized for His dear sake: Come ye gentle hearts and tender, Come ye spirits keen and bold; All in all your homage render, Weak and mighty, young and old. 4  High above a star is shining, And the wise men haste from far: Come, glad hearts, and spirits pining— For you all has ris’n the star. Let us bring our poor oblations, Thanks and love, and faith and praise; Come, ye people, come, ye nations, All in all draw nigh to gaze. 5  Hark the Heav’n of heav’ns is ringing: Christ the Lord to man is born! Are not all our hearts, too, singing, Welcome, welcome, Christmas morn? Still the Child, all power possessing, Smiles as through the ages past; And the song of Christmas blessing Sweetly sinks to rest at last.