"Angels We Have Heard on High"

Angels we have heard on 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 your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspires your heav'nly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo;
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo;
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Text: French, translator James Chadwick
Tune: French; setting: Edward S. Barnes

I have always loved this Christmas hymn. I have great memories of singing this when a group from my home church would go caroling. My mom and I would do a descant thing on it, and it was cool. It's awesome to ponder these lyrics and think of how amazing that must have been seeing those angels fill the sky, and hearing the message they proclaimed!