O Dark Was The Night

O dark was the night and cold blew the wind

Author: Anonymous (before 1917)
Tune: [O dark was the night and cold blew the wind]
Published in 2 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 O dark was the night and cold blew the wind,
But Joseph and Mary no shelter could find;
In all the fair city of Bethlehem,
In cottage or inn was no room for them!

Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis,
Gloria in excelsis,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

2 But in a poor stable their couch was made,
And low in a manger the Babe was laid.
O fair was the Child, the mother how fair!
But only the oxen stood waiting there! [Refrain]

3 But out on the hills was a wondrous light,
And heavenly music entranced the night;
And beasts of the field were roused in their lair
By the sound of voices and harps in the air. [Refrain]

4 And shepherds awatching their flocks by night
Espied in the heavens a marvelous sight;
Of angels and spirits a mighty throng.
For joy and great gladness singing this song: [Refrain]

5 O come then, ye faithful, ye men of good will,
Let joy and thanksgiving every heart fill;
Tell out the glad tidings that Jesus has come,
To open the way to the heavenly home. [Refrain]

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #8275

Author: Anonymous

In some hymnals, the editors noted that a hymn's author is unknown to them, and so this artificial "person" entry is used to reflect that fact. Obviously, the hymns attributed to "Author Unknown" "Unknown" or "Anonymous" could have been written by many people over a span of many centuries. Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O dark was the night and cold blew the wind
Title: O Dark Was The Night
Author: Anonymous (before 1917)
Source: Carols Old and Carols New by Charles L. Hutchins (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916)
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Gloria in excelsis
Copyright: Public Domain

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #8275

Include 1 pre-1979 instance
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