Best of Religious Christmas Carols with lyrics.
Introduction
Christmas carols and their lyrics have a rich and colorful history. For centuries, people have gathered together in villages, town squares, sheds and barns to celebrate the birth of Jesus by singing songs. Now that your favorite holiday season is here, its time to rank the best of Christmas carols !
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O Holy Night (Adolph Adam, 1847)
#11.3O! Holy night! The stars, their gleams prolonging, Watch o'er the eve of our dear Saviour's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error, longing For His appearance, then the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, the night when Christ was Born; O night, O holy night, O night divine! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts we stand by the Babe adored. O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming, And come now, Shepherds, from your flocks unboard. The Son of God lay thus within lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our Lord. He knows our need, our weakness never lasting, Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord! Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord! Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Long live His truth, and may it last forever, For in His name all discordant noise shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise us, With all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory evermore proclaim! His power and glory evermore proclaim!
O Come, All Ye Faithful! (John Francis Wade, 1751)
#22.3O 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. God of God, Light of Light, Lo! he abhors not the Virgin's womb: Very God, Begotten, not created; Refrain Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above; Glory to God In the highest; Refrain See how the shepherds, Summoned to his cradle, Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze; We too will thither Bend our joyful footsteps; Refrain Child, for us sinners Poor and in the manger, We would embrace thee, with love and awe; Who would not live thee, Loving us so dearly? Refran Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus, to thee be glory given; Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing; Refrain
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Lewis Redner, 1868)
#32.7O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight For Christ is born of Mary And gathered all above While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love O morning stars together Proclaim the holy birth And praises sing to God the King And Peace to men on earth How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heaven No ear may hear His coming But in this world of sin Where meek souls will receive him still The dear Christ enters in O holy Child of Bethlehem Descend to us, we pray Cast out our sin and enter in Be born to us today We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell O come to us, abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel O come to us, abide with us Our Lord Emmanuel
Joy To The World (Isaac Watts, 1719)
#44.0Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, a nd heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessing flow far as the cure is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. 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.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Charles Wesley, 1739
#55.3Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King! Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the Virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell; Jesus, our Emmanuel! Refrain Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Risen with healing in his wings, Light and life to all he brings, Hail, the Sun of Righteousness! Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Refrain Come, Desire of nations come, Fix in us Thy humble home; Rise, the Woman's conquering Seed, Bruise in us the Serpent's head. Adam's likeness now efface: Stamp Thine image in its place; Second Adam, from above, Reinstate us in thy love. Refrain
The Holly and the Ivy (1710)
#65.7The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown: O, the rising of the sun, And the running of the deer The playing of the merry organ, Sweet singing in the choir. The holly bears a blossom, As white as lily flow'r, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, To be our dear Saviour: Refrain The holly bears a berry, As red as any blood, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, To do poor sinners good: Refrain The holly bears a prickle, As sharp as any thorn, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, On Christmas Day in the morn: Refrain The holly bears a bark, As bitter as the gall, And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ, For to redeem us all: Refrain T he holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown: Refrain
We Wish You A Merry Christmas (1640)
#76.7We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Good tidings we bring to you and your kin; Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year. Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; Oh, bring us a figgy pudding; Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer: Refrain We won't go until we get some; We won't go until we get some; We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here: Refrain We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas; We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
12 Days Of Christmas (James O. Halliwell, 1842)
#88.0On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree. On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming, Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree!
Ding Dong Merrily On High (Johan Tabourot, 1589
#99.0Ding dong! merrily on high, In heav'n the bells are ringing: Ding dong! verily the sky Is riv'n with angel singing. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! E'en so here below, below, Let steeple bells be swungen, And "Io, io, io!" By priest and people sungen. Refrain Pray you, dutifully prime Your matin chime, ye ringers; May you beautifully rime Your evetime song, ye singers. Refrain
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Edmund Sears, 1849)
#1010.0It 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. 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. Yet with the woes of sin and strife, The world hath suffered long; Beneath the angel-strain have rolled, Two thousand years of wrong; And man, at war with man, hears not, The love song which they bring: O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing. For lo! the days are hastening on, By prophet bards foretold, When, with the ever-circling years, Shall come the Age of Gold; When peace shall over all the earth, Its ancient splendors fling, And all the world give back the song, Which now the angels sing.
Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818)
#1111.0Silent 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, Shepherds quake at the sight; Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! 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.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (1760)
#1212.0God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born upon this 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. From God our heavenly Father 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: Refrain The shepherds at those tidings Rejoiced much in mind, And left their flocks a-feeding In tempest, storm and wind, And went to Bethlehem straightway, This blessed Babe to find: Refrain But when to Bethlehem they came, Whereat this Infant lay, They found Him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay; His mother Mary kneeling, Unto the Lord did pray Refrain 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
Angels We Have Heard on High (James Chadwick, 1862)
#1313.3Angels we have heard on high Sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply Echoing their joyous strains. Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your heav’nly song? Come to Bethlehem and see Him Whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. See Him in a manger laid, Whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While our hearts in love we raise.
I Saw Three Ships (1700)
#1413.7I saw three ships come sailing by on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. I saw three ships come sailing by on Christmas Day in the morning. And what was in those ships all three on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day? And what was in those ships all three on Christmas Day in the morning? The Virgin Mary and Christ were there on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. The virgin Mary and Christ were there on Christmas Day in the morning.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
#1515.0[Verse 1] O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear [Refrain] Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel [Verse 2] O come, O come, Thou Lord of might Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height In ancient times didst give the law In cloud, and majesty and awe [Refrain] Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel [Verse 3] O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny From depths of hell Thy people save And give them victory o'er the grave [Refrain] Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel [Verse 4] O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here Disperse the gloomy clouds of night And death's dark shadows put to flight [Refrain] Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel [Verse 5] 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 [Refrain] Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel [Verse 6] O come, Thou Wisdom from on high And order all things, far and nigh To us the path of knowledge show And cause us in her ways to go [Refrain] Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel [Verse 7] O come, desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind Bid Thou our sad divisions cease And be Thyself our King of peace [Refrain] Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel
The First Noel (1800)
#1616.3The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields as they lay, keeping their sheep, On a cold winter's night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. Refrain And by the light of that same star Three wise men came from country far; To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went. Refrain This star drew nigh to the northwest, O'er Bethlehem it took it rest, And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay. Refrain Then entered in those wise men three Full reverently upon their knee, And offered there in his presence Their gold, and myrrh, and frakincense. Refrain Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord; That hath made heaven and earth of naught, And with his blood mankind hath bought. Refrain
The Little Drummer Boy (Katherine Kennicott Davis,1941)
#1717.3Come they told me Pa rum pum pum pum A new born King to see Pa rum pum pum pum Our finest gifts we bring Pa rum pum pum pum To lay before the kIng Pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum So to honor Him Pa rum pum pum pum When we come Little baby Pa rum pum pum pum I am a poor boy too Pa rum pum pum pum I have no gift to bring Pa rum pum pum pum That's fit to give our King Pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum Shall I play for you Pa rum pum pum pum On my drum Mary nodded Pa rum pum pum pum The ox and lamb kept time Pa rum pum pum pum I played my drum for Him Pa rum pum pum pum I played my best for Him Pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum Then He smiled at me Pa rum pum pum pum Me and my drum
Away in a Manger (1885)
#1818.0Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay. The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky, And stay by my side until morning is nigh. Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay. Close by me forever, And love me I pray. Bless all the dear children, In thy tender care. And take them to heaven, To be with thee there.
Mary Did You Know? (Mark Lowry, Buddy Greene, 1991)
#1918.7Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new? This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you. Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand? Did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God? Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo The blind will see. The deaf will hear. The dead will live again. The lame will leap. The dumb will speak The praises of The Lamb. Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation? Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? The sleeping Child you're holding is the great "I am"
Good King Wenceslas (John Mason Neale, 1853)
#2019.7Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen When the snow lay round about Deep and crisp and even Brightly shone the moon that night Though the frost was cruel When a poor man came in sight Gath'ring winter fuel "Hither, page, and stand by me If thou know'st it, telling Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?" "Sire, he lives a good league hence Underneath the mountain Right against the forest fence By Saint Agnes' fountain." "Bring me flesh and bring me wine Bring me pine logs hither Thou and I will see him dine When we bear him thither." Page and monarch forth they went Forth they went together Through the rude wind's wild lament And the bitter weather "Sire, the night is darker now And the wind blows stronger Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer." "Mark my footsteps, my good page Tread thou in them boldly Thou shalt find the winter's rage Freeze thy blood less coldly." In his master's steps he trod Where the snow lay dinted Heat was in the very sod Which the Saint had printed Therefore, Christian men, be sure Wealth or rank possessing Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing
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georgiana-laura4 years ago
I like this carol when it's sung by Enya.
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