It Never Shall Pass Away

O the song that ech­oed from star­ry spheres

And hushed the won­der­ing shep­herds’ fears

Is still the same thro’ the chang­ing years—

It nev­er shall pass away!

It nev­er shall pass away

While shin­eth the sun’s bright ray:

Earth paus­es each year that sto­ry to hear—

It nev­er shall pass away!

Tho’ the ag­es pass with a so­lemn tread

Tho’ pomp and pride of the past is dead

Still lives the song of that night long fled—

It nev­er shall pass away!

Unto ev­ery na­tion

in ev­ery clime

That song shall ring in glad hymn and chime;

Its joy shall live thro’ the realms of time—

It nev­er shall pass away!