What Soul Inspiring Music

What soul in­spir­ing mu­sic

Thrills through the mid­night air?

What sounds of heav’n­ly sweet­ness

Dispel all doubt and care?

Every star and con­stel­la­tion

Sheds a ra­di­ance doub­ly bright;

See the Plei­ads and Ori­on

Glitter keen­ly in the height!

Sparkling fires

like twink­ling blos­soms

Stud night’s robe with light.

Strange forms float ho­ver­ing o’er us

New sounds fall on our ear;

God’s an­gel bids us wel­come

His voice says

Nev­er fear!

Born to you in Da­vid’s ci­ty

Lies the Sav­ior

all di­vine

David’s root and Da­vid’s off­spring

Promised seed of Da­vid’s line;

He is swathed and in a man­ger;

Take this for a sign.

Straight

crowds of heav­en­ly war­ri­ors

Outshining ev­ery star

Stand forth round that one her­ald

Proclaiming peace afar;

Choirs of an­gels and arch­an­gels

Seraphim and cher­ub­im

Thrones and prince­doms

do­mi­na­tions

Powers and might which wax not dim;

Spirit-hosts in ranks ce­les­ti­al

Raise one joy­ous hymn.

Speed

shep­herds

leave your sheep­folds

To Beth­l’em haste away;

Fall on your knees be­fore Him

Salute Him while ye may:

Bring your of­fer­ings

bring your trea­sure

Open wide each sim­ple store;

Pipe and dance in rus­tic mea­sure

In His man­ger Him ad­ore;

Every deed to give Him plea­sure

Be yours ev­er­more.