SDA Hymnal 144
O Sing a Song of Bethlehem
Words: Louis F. BensonMusic: Traditional English melodyTune: KingsfoldC.M.D.
1O sing a song of Bethlehem,
Of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them
From angels in the air:
The light that shone on Bethlehem
Fills all the world today;
Of Jesus' birth and peace on earth
The angels sing alway.
2O sing a song of Nazareth,
Of sunny days of joy,
O sing of fragrant flowers' breath,
And of the sinless Boy:
For now the flowers of Nazareth
In every heart may grow;
Now spreads the fame of His dear name
On all the winds that blow.
3O sing a song of Calvary,
Its glory and dismay,
Of Him who hung upon the tree,
And took our sins away:
For He who died on Calvary
Is risen from the grave,
And Christ, our Lord, by heaven adored,
Is mighty now to save.
- Words
- Louis F. Benson
- Tune
- Kingsfold
- Meter
- C.M.D.
- Scripture
- Luke 2:1-20
The verse
- Meter
- 8.6.8.6.8.6.8.6 · as printed
- Foot
- iambic (da-DUM) · 79% of beats fit
- Rhyme
- ABCBADED
Could also be sung to Carol, Jerusalem, Ellacombe, Mount Bethel, Varina · same meter and stresses; not printed with these words, so try it first.
Scan every line
/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary · * a word sung short, as “heav’n”
Verse 1
Verse 2
Verse 3
Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.