The lyrics for “Angels We Have Heard On High” are a translation of a French song Les Anges dans nos campagnes (literally, “Angels in our countryside”) The melody is a traditional hymn “Gloria” Gloria in Excelsis Deo! (Latin for “Glory to God in the highest”
Merry Christmas 2015 and Vive la France!
Lyrics:
[G] Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plain
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strain
—Chorus—:
Sweetly singing o’er the plain
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strain
—Chorus—:
[G] Glo-o-o-o-o-o- [C] O-o-o-o-o-o-[G] O-o-o-o-o-o-[D] O-ri-a [G] in Ex-cel-sis De-o![D]
[G] Glo-o-o-o-o-o- [C] O-o-o-o-o-o-[G] O-o-o-o-o-o-[D] O-ri-a [G] in Ex-cel-sis [D] De-o![G]
Shepherds, why this jubilee,
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly songs?
Chorus
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.
Chorus
See Him in a manger laid,
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
With us sing our Savior’s birth.
Chorus