RISE Christmas and Advent Songs
Lyric Archive
“Again”
~Brent Holl and Chris Zepp
It’s that time again
Time to trim the tree
Time to string all the lights up
Time for Christmas jubilee!
It’s the season of hope
When all is possible
Dreams of life as it could be
Hearts so full…
Could a little baby
Change the world?
Maybe if we let him
Come again...
Hope born anew
That all will be restored
Swords beat into plowshares
War learned no more
It’s the season of hope
When all is possible
Dreams of life as it could be
Hearts so full...
A tiny little baby
Sent to save the world
Could it be so?
Christ will come again...
“Christmas in the Trenches”
~John McCutcheon
My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.
I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Stille Nacht." "Tis 'Silent Night," says I
And in two tongues one song filled up the sky
"There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men
Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
"Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore
My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same
“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
~Hymn text - Charles Wesley / Music (HYFRYDOL) - R.H. Prichard
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne
“Comfort, comfort, O my people” [Geneva 42 (Freu Dich Sehr)]
~Johannes Olearius/Louis Bourgeois, arr. Brent M. Holl
Comfort, comfort, O my people, speak of peace, now says our God.
Comfort those who sit in darkness, mourning 'neath their sorrows' load.
Speak unto Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them.
Tell of all the sins I cover, and that warfare now is over.
Hark, the voice of one who's crying in the desert far and near,
bidding all to full repentance since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way.
Let the valleys rise to meet him and the hills bow down to greet him.
O make straight what long was crooked, make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord now o'er earth is shed abroad.
And all flesh shall see the token that his word is never broken.
“Far Too Long”
~Brent Holl and Chris Zepp
For far too long, the world had dwelt in darkness
For far too long the people without light
And so God sent us a tiny little baby
A little child to inspire and delight
A little child to inspire and delight
The angels sang, the shepherds rejoiced
The friendly beasts gathered ‘round the baby mild
Wise men offered gifts of frankincense and myrrh
Mary and Joseph sang softly to the child
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia
For far too long, the world had dwelt in darkness
For far too long the people without light
And so God sent us a tiny little baby
A little child to inspire and delight
A little child to inspire and delight
“Fragile” (The Christ Candle)
~Brent Holl and Chris Zepp
What were you thinking when you made yourself a child?
Instead of conquering might, you chose a baby meek and mild.
At first you needed constant care like any other babe.
You grew like countless other boys, and surely mischief made.
Then you broke upon the scene of synagogue and priest.
It was clear you wouldn’t rule; instead you'd serve the least.
You taught and healed and wonders made, soon making rulers scared
So they put you up upon a cross, no humiliation spared
Why did you save the world this way?
Sent as baby swaddled in hay?
So fragile, so precious, a gift freely given.
A child, a savior, from God in heaven.
And so you finally left this world the same way you came in.
A fragile, human body - just like ours, but without sin,
Yet somehow in this act of love, humanity was saved.
Hope and Peace and Joy and Love - all these and more you gave.
And so on Christmas we recall, the way in which you came
As one of us in human form, and so you lit the flame
A fragile light in fragile form, you’re presence here tonight
We celebrate as we light the Christ candle bright!
Why did you save the world this way?
Sent as baby swaddled in hay?
So fragile, so precious, a gift freely given.
A child, a savior, from God in heaven.
“Gabriel’s Message”
~Text: Sabine Barin-Gould, Music: Basque Carol
The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame.
"All hail," said he, “thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favor’d lady." Gloria!
"For known as blessed mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honor thee.
Thy son shall be Immanuel by seers foretold,
most highly favor’d lady." Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said.
"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."
Most highly favor’d lady, Gloria!
“Gloria” (Angels We Have Heard on High)
~French Carol
Angels we have heard on high
Singing sweetly through the night,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brave delight.
Gloria, in excelsis deo!
Gloria, in excelsis deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear?
Gloria, in excelsis deo!
Gloria, in excelsis deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis deo!
Gloria, in excelsis deo!
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While we raise our hearts in love.
Gloria, in excelsis deo!
Gloria, in excelsis deo!
“God GranT you Peace and Happiness” (God Rest You Merry Gentlemen)
God grant you peace and happiness, let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour, 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 Jewry, 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 in heaven above 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
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
“Good Christian Friends Rejoice” (Geistliche Lieder)
~John M Neale
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ was born today.
Ox and ass before him bow,
and he is in the manger now.
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this!
He has opened heaven's door,
and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this!
Christ was born for this!
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice;
now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all
to gain his everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save!
Christ was born to save!
“GO, TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN”
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a Holy light
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
The shepherds feared and trembled
When, lo! Above the Earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And brought us all salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
“He came down”
~From Cameroon
He came down that we may have Hope (3x)
Hallelujah forever more! (Why did he come?)
He came down that we may have Peace (3x)
Hallelujah forever more! (Why did he come?)
He came down that we may have Joy (3x)
Hallelujah forever more! (Why did he come?)
He came down that we may have Love (3x)
Hallelujah forever more! (Sing it all again!)
“Il est né” (“He Is Born”)
~Traditional French Carol
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Chantons tous son avènement!
Through long ages of the past,
prophets have foretold His coming;
through long ages of the past,
now the time has come at last!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Chantons tous son avènement!
O how lovely, O how pure
is this perfect Child of heaven;
O how lovely, O how pure,
gracious gift to humankind!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Chantons tous son avènement!
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
coming as a Child among us;
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
grant to us Thy heavenly peace.
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes!
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Chantons tous son avènement!
“In the Bleak Midwinter”
~Christina Rossetti / Gustav Holst
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone:
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, heav’n cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heav’n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter a stableplace sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air,
but only his mother, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the Beloved with a kiss.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man, I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
“It came upon the midnight clear”
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.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when Christ shall come and all shall own
the Prince of Peace, their king,
and Saints shall meet him in the air,
and with the angels sing.
“Joy to The World”
~Isaac Watts
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
“Light of Love”
~Brent Holl and Chris Zepp
Light up the candles - hope, peace, joy, and love
All are essential, but the greatest is love
Love come to save us, Love divine
Love born as a baby, saving humankind
Love born as a baby, saving humankind
Love is patient, Love is kind
Love’s alive at Christmas time
The advent candle, light of Love
A gift to us from God above
We’re called to love in all we’re meant to do
People we’re close with and strangers too
Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes not
God is always with us and love is what we’ve got
God is always with us and love is what we’ve got
Love is patient, Love is kind
Love’s alive at Christmas time
The advent candle, light of Love
A gift to us from God above
A gift to us from God above
“O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL”
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
All glory in the highest
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning
Jesus, to Thee be glory given
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord!
“O COME, O COME, IMMANUEL”
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
And drive away the shades of night
And pierce the clouds and bring us light!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
“O Sing a Song of Bethlehem / Angels We Have Heard on High” (“KINGSFOLD / Gloria”)
~arr. Brent Holl
O sing a song of Bethlehem,
Of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them
From angels in the air:
The light that shone on Bethlehem
Fills all the world today;
Of Jesus' birth and peace on earth
The angels sing alway…
Angels we have heard on high,
singing sweetly through the night,
and the mountains in reply
echoing their brave delight:
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tidings did you hear?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
See Him in a manger laid,
whom the angels praise above.
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
while we raise our hearts in love.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
“Personant Hodie” (On this day earth shall ring)
~Text: Piae Cantiones, Music: German Meolody
On this day earth shall ring
with the song children sing
to the Lord, Christ our King,
born on earth to save us;
him the Father gave us.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o,
gloria in excelsis Deo!
His the doom, ours the mirth;
when he came down to earth,
Bethlehem saw his birth;
ox and ass beside him
from the cold would hide him.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o,
gloria in excelsis Deo!
God's bright star, o'er his head,
Wise Men three to him led;
kneel they low by his bed,
lay their gifts before him,
praise him and adore him.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o,
gloria in excelsis Deo!
On this day angels sing;
with their song earth shall ring,
praising Christ, heaven's King,
born on earth to save us;
peace and love he gave us.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o,
gloria in excelsis Deo!
“Prince of Peace”
~Brent Holl and Chris Zepp
When darkness falls, pain returns, hope is all but lost.
For peace she would do anything regardless of the cost.
At Christmas time, she often feels like no one understands,
With fa-la-las and ho-ho-hos, it's more than she can stand.
Didn’t you come to bring release from all despair and pain?
Prince of Peace, Light of the World — come to us again!
You know sadness, you’ve conquered darkness, come to us again!
Prince of Peace, Hope for us all, come to us again!
When the calendar turns, his thoughts do too, and memories stir once more
Of times they shared and the way they cared, now gone forevermore.
At Christmas time, those memories bring grief and bitter tears.
For what’s been lost and won’t return for all his remaining years.
Didn’t you come to bring release from all despair and pain?
Prince of Peace, Light of the World — come to us again!
You know sadness, you’ve conquered darkness, come to us again!
Prince of Peace, Hope for us all, come to us again!
Every night we hear news of violence and strife
Oppression and fear fuel hatred and war, taking so many lives.
At Christmas time, we’re supposed to forget what makes us sad.
We smile, say “Merry Christmas”, and pretend that nothing’s bad.
Didn’t you come to bring release from all despair and pain?
Prince of Peace, Light of the World — come to us again!
You know sadness, you’ve conquered darkness, come to us again!
Prince of Peace, Hope for us all, come to us again!
Won’t you be our Prince of Peace again?
“Rejoice, Rejoice”
~Marty Haugen
Awake! Awake and greet the new morn,
for angels herald its dawning.
sing out your joy, for soon he is born,
behold! the Child of our longing.
Come as a baby weak and poor,
to bring all hearts together,
he opens wide the heav’nly door,
and lives now inside us forever.
To us, to all in sorrow and fear,
Emmanuel comes a-singing,
his humble song is quiet and near,
yet fills the earth with its ringing;
Music to heal the broken soul
and hymns of loving kindness,
the thunder of his anthems roll
to shatter all hatred and blindness.
In darkest night his coming shall be,
when all the world is despairing,
as morning light so quiet and free,
so warm and gentle and caring.
Then shall the mute break forth in song,
the lame shall leap in wonder,
the weak be raised above the strong,
and weapons be broken asunder.
Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night,
though dark the winter and cheerless,
the rising sun shall crown you with light,
be strong and loving and fearless.
Love be our song and love our prayer,
and love, our endless story,
may God fill ev’ry day we share
and bring us at last into glory.
“Silent Night”
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night,
Darkness flies, all is light;
Shepherds hear the angels sing,
"Alleluia! hail the King!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born."
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Silent night, holy night,
Wondrous star, lend the light;
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.
“So this is Christmas”
~John Lennon
So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
Your near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
Your near and the dear ones
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now
“Three Kings”
~Robbie O’Connell
Three Kings came riding from the East
Just as the Day was dawning
The newborn King of Kings to see,
All on a Christmas Morning.
A fiery star, it guided them,
Just as the Day was dawning
It brought them unto Bethlehem.
All on a Christmas Morning.
They came onto a stable there,
Just as the Day was dawning
And found a newborn infant there.
All on a Christmas Morning.
And down upon their knees they fell,
Just as the Day was dawning
The child he sweetly smiled on them.
All on a Christmas Morning.
Three gifts they gave him to behold.
Just as the Day was dawning
Of Frankincense and Myrrh and Gold.
All on a Christmas Morning.
“The Virgin Mary”
~West Indian Carol
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy (x3)
And they say that His name is Jesus.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Oh yes, believer! Oh yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
The angels sang when the baby born (x3)
And they say that His name is Jesus.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Oh yes, believer! Oh yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
The shepherds came where the baby was born (x3)
And they say that His name is Jesus.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Oh yes, believer! Oh yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
The wise men came where the baby was born (x3)
And they say that His name is Jesus.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
Oh yes, believer! Oh yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.