Whence Comes This Rush of Wings?

Whence comes this rush of wings afar

Following straight the No­ël star?

Birds from the woods in won­drous flight

Bethlehem seek this ho­ly night.

Tell us

ye birds

why come ye here

Into this sta­ble

poor and drear?

Hastening we seek the new­born King

And all our sweet­est mu­sic bring.

Hark how the green­finch bears his part

Philomel

too

with ten­der heart

Chants from her leafy dark re­treat

Re

mi

fa

sol

in ac­cents sweet.

Angels and shep­herds

birds of the sky

Come where the Son of God doth lie;

Christ on the earth with man doth dwell

Join in the shout

No­ël

No­ël!