We took The Old Hark Hark, a version of the popular hymn “Hark! Hark what news the angels bring,” from The New Oxford Book of Carols. The hymn was first published in 1732, and was written down in this form by the English folksong collector H.E.D. Hammond in 1919 as sung by the Walton (Buckinghamshire) waits. The song is a favorite among the carol singers in the South Yorkshire pubs.

Hark, hark what news the angels bring
Glad tidings of the new-born King
Born of a maid, a virgin pure
Born without sin from guilt secure

Hail mighty Prince, eternal King
Let heaven and earth rejoice and sing
Angels and men with one accord
Break forth in song, O praise the Lord

Behold he comes and leaves the skies
Awake, ye slumbering mortals rise
Awake to joy and hail the morn
The savior of this world is born

Echo shall waft the strains around
’Til listening angels hear the sound
And all the heavenly host above
Shall join to sing redeeming love.

© Golden Hind Music