Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings
Christmas 2009
December 22
The "Sussex Carol" is also known as "On Christmas Night All Christians Sing" from the first line of the carol. The words and music were collected by Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams from Mrs. Harriet Verrall of Monk's Gate, Sussex and published in 1919.
I capoed the banjo to play it in aEAC#E tuning.
Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night All Christians Sing)
Performed by Greg Barlow on banjo
Words: English traditional
Music: SUSSEX CAROL, English traditional
On Christmas night all Christians sing,
To hear the news the angels bring,
On Christmas night all Christians sing,
To hear the news the angels bring -
News of great joy news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth.
Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
Then why should men on earth be so sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty?
When sin departs before his grace,
Then life and health come in its place,
When sin departs before his grace,
Then life and health come in its place;
Angels and men with joy may sing,
All for to see the new born King.
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
Glory to God and peace to men,
Now and for evermore. Amen.
Sources and more information
- Oxford Book of Carols, 1964.
- New Century Hymnal, 1995.
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas
- Wikipedia