It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
The Philadelphia Orchestra And Chorus Lyrics
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That glorious song of old
From Angels playing near the earth
To touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth could will two men
From Heaven's all-gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
And I hear them singing
Sing, I do hear them singing
The first Noel the Angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay, they keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
The Philadelphia Orchestra And Chorus's song "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" is a beautiful Christmas Carol that was originally a poem written by Edmund Hamilton Sears in 1849. The song starts with a vivid description of the scene at midnight when a beautiful song from angels lit up the sky. The song was so beautiful that the Angels near the earth began playing their harps of gold to make the carol even more beautiful. This intense image gives the impression of an intense magical moment, where the world is silent, peaceful, and still.
The song reflects on the message of peace, and the idea that it's possible for peace to exist on earth through the will of heaven's gracious king. The song calls for all people to be still and listen to the beautiful singing of the Angels that are announcing the coming of peace. The singer hears the Angels singing and invites us to listen to the beautiful singing too.
Line by Line Meaning
It came upon the midnight clear
The event happened during a clear midnight
That glorious song of old
The song was a glorious, old one
From Angels playing near the earth
Angels were playing music close to the earth
To touch their harps of gold
They were playing harps made of gold
Peace on the earth could will two men
Peace on earth could only come from God
From Heaven's all-gracious King
The King of Heaven, who is full of grace
The world in solemn stillness lay
The world was silent and still
To hear the Angels sing
People were listening to the Angels sing
And I hear them singing
The artist hears the Angels singing
Sing, I do hear them singing
I definitely hear them singing
The first Noel the Angel did say
The Angel spoke the first Noel
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
The message was directed to poor shepherds in a field
In fields where they lay, they keeping their sheep
The shepherds were watching over their sheep in the field
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
It was a very cold and deep winter's night
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edmund Hamilton Sears, Richard Storrs Willis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matthew Nichols
I listen to this every Xmas morning at 4am with a glass of wine... priceless. I go outside and look at the stars and think of all the loved ones that are gone and think of Christmas mornings when I was a kid. And it gives me some tears and I just say merry Christmas and it makes my day
Thee Childlike Empress
That's beautiful.
Gina
1 It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.
2 Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o'er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o'er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.
3 And ye, beneath life's crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!
4 For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.
William Starsinic
Great arrangements
Matthew
Can't explain the harmony and love in this song. It's like the angels in heaven are playing it. Always tears me up and it's funny all xmas songs are to make you happy but I cry to this one because it's that good and sad that comes out.
tephillah Shalom
Lovely 😍
Hankfan Hankfan
Eugene Ormandy, conductor, and Robert Page, director.