UUTC Christmas Songbook
(Compiled 1.2.2023)
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And with your captive children dwell.
Give comfort to all exiles here,
And to the aching heart bid cheer.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come within as Love to dwell..
O come, you Splendor very bright,
As joy that never yields to might.
O come, and turn all hearts to peace,
That greed and war at last shall cease.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come within as Truth to dwell.
O come, you Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by your presence here.
And dawn in every broken soul
As vision that can see the whole.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come within as Light to dwell.
O come, you Wisdom from on high,
From depths that hide within a sigh,
To temper knowledge with our care,
To render every act a prayer.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come within as Hope to dwell.
Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have on heard high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
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
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
Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
See the blazing Yule before us.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fast away the old year passes.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
The First Nowell
The First Nowell, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
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
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the king of Israel
And by the light of that same star
Three magi came from country far
To seek a king was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell
Born is the king of Israel
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and ev'rywhere.
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 ev'rywhere.
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 the baby’s birth.
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and ev'rywhere.
Go tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born!
Down in a lowly manger,
The humble babe was born,
And God sent us salvation,
That blessed Christmas morn.
Go tell it on the mountain,
Over the hills and ev'rywhere.
Go tell it on the mountain,
That Jesus Christ is born!
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 the news we bring.”
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.
Joy to the World!
Joy to the world! the Word is come;
Let earth with praises ring.
Let every heart prepare a room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! Now gladness reigns;
Let hearts 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;
Let righteousness its glories show
As far as love is found,
As far as love is found,
As far, as far, as love is found.
O Little Town of Bethlehem
O 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 street 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 ring: from God they bring
Goodwill to all on earth.
How silently, how silently
The wonder is made known,
When God imparts to human hearts
The gift that is our own.
No ear may hear that coming
But in this worldly din
When souls are truly humble,
Then the dear babe rests within.
Silent Night, Holy 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!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Silent night! Holy night!
Child of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!
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:
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Dominum.
Lo, humble shepherds, hasting to his cradle,
Leaving their flocks in the fields, draw near.
We, too, with gladness, thither bend our footsteps;
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Dominum.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest:
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Dominum.
White Christmas
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
We Three Kings
We Three Kings of Orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder Star.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Born a King on Bethlehem plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King for ever,
Ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Frankincense to offer have I,
Incense owns a Deity nigh:
Prayer and praising
All men raising,
Worship Him God on High.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;—
Sorrowing, sighing,
Bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
O Star of Wonder, Star of Night,
Star with Royal Beauty bright,
Westward leading,
Still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect Light.
Twelve Days of Christmas
On 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 (what's a calling bird)
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 layin'
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 swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
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 milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds (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 dancin'
Eight maids a milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
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 leapin'
Nine ladies dancin'
Eight maids a milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
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 pipin'
Ten lords a leapin'
Nine ladies dancin'
Eight maids a milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
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 drummin'
Eleven pipers pipin'
Ten lords a leapin'
Nine ladies dancin'
Eight maids milkin'
Seven swans a swimmin'
Six geese a layin'
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds
Three french hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh
Over the fields we go, laughing all the way
Bells on bob-tail ring, making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
A day or two ago, I thought I'd take a ride
And soon miss fanny bright, was seated by my side
The horse was lean and lank, misfortune seemed his lot
He got into a drifted bank and we got upset
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
A day or two ago, the story I must tell
I went out on the snow, and on my back I fell
A gent was riding by, in a one-horse open sleigh
He laughed as there I sprawling lie but quickly drove away
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Now the ground is white, go it while you're young
Take the girls tonight, and sing this sleighing song
Just get a bob-tailed bay, two-forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh and crack, you'll take the lead
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
O what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh
Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw it,
you would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history!
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history!
You'll go down in history!
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
You better watch out
You better cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He's making a list
He's checking it twice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees when you are sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you been good or bad
So be good for goodness sake
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Frosty, The Snowman
Frosty the snowman
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe
And a button nose
And 2 eyes made out of coal
Frosty the snowman
Is a fairytale they say
He was made of snow
But the children know
How he came to life one day
There must have been some magic
In that old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around
Frosty the Snowman
Was alive as he could be
And the children say
He could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me
Frosty the Snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said let's run
And we'll have some fun
Now before I melt away
Down to the village
With a broomstick in his hand
Running here and there all around the square
Saying catch me if you can
He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler stop
Frosty the Snowman
Had to hurry on his way
But he waved goodbye
Saying don't you cry
I'll be back again some day
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Over the hills of snow
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We 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
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
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.