What Christmas Carol Are These Words From? -- #2 Quiz

Answer: Go Tell It On the Mountain

'Go Tell It On The Mountain', written by John W. Work, is the correct answer. Work was born in Nashville, Tenn., but no one is certain about the year. (Some Websites state 1871 and others 1873.) According to Wikipedia Work "was the first African-American collector of folk songs and spirituals, and also a choral director, educationalist and songwriter." He also owned a music publishing company called Work Brothers and Hart.

Here are the words to the Christmas carol 'Go Tell It On the Mountain':

"While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Saviour's birth:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God send us salvation,
That blessed Christmas morn:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

When I am a seeker,
I seek both night and day;
I seek the Lord to help me,
And He shows me the way:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born."

Answer: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

The correct answer is 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen', also known as 'Tidings of Comfort and Joy'. However, no one knows for certain who wrote the words.

"It is one of the oldest extant carols, dated to the 16th century or earlier," Wikipedia reports. "The earliest known printed edition of the carol is in a broadsheet dated to c. 1760."

The song is referred to in Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' in 1843.

Here are the words to 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen'.

"God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,
"Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might."
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy."

Answer: O Come All Ye Faithful

The correct answer is 'O Come All Ye Faithful'.

Wikipedia states 'O Come, All Ye Faithful' was originally written in Latin as 'Adeste Fideles'. However, no one knows for certain who wrote the Christmas carol. According to Wikipedia, the song has been attributed to various authors, including John Francis Wade (1711-1786), with the earliest copies of the hymn all bearing his signature, John Reading (1645-1692) and King John IV of Portugal (1604-1656). In addition, no one knows for certain who composed the music for the carol, with several musicians being credited.

Here are the words to 'O Come All Ye Faithful':
"O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

O Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God's holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord."

Answer: Once In Royal David's City

The correct answer is 'Once in Royal David's City', written by Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895).

"Mrs. Alexander wrote many poems for children, chiefly on religious subjects and was the wife of the Bishop of Derry," states the Website Carols.org.uk. "This carol is believed to have first been published in the early nineteenth century."

The music to 'Once in Royal David's City' was composed by H.J. Gauntlett.

Here are the words to 'Once in Royal David's City':

"Once in royal David's city,
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby,
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ, her little Child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall:
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

For He is our childhood's pattern;
Day by day, like us, He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles, like us He knew;
And He cares when we are sad,
And he shares when we are glad.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that Child so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in heaven above:
And He leads His children on,
To the place where He is gone."

Answer: Angels, From the Realms of Glory

The correct answer is 'Angels, From the Realms of Glory', written by Irishman James Montgomery in 1816.

Carols.org.uk reports Montgomery's parents were missionaries who "died following their vocation."

The music for 'Angels, From the Realms of Glory' was composed by Henry Smart.

Carols.org.uk also reports the words "angels we have heard on high" are also sung to the tune in versions used in the United Kingdom and the rest of the English speaking world.

Here are the words to the carol 'Angels, From the Realms of Glory':

"Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!

Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!"

Answer: Christians Awake

The correct answer is 'Christians Awake', written by John Byron.

Byron was born in Broughton, England in 1692 and died in Manchester in 1763.

Carols.org.uk reports Byron wrote the poem in 1745 for his little daughter Dorothy.

"On Christmas morning she found the manuscript amongst her presents," Carols.org.uk reports. "The title was originally called 'Christmas Day for Dolly' but was renamed as 'Christians Awake'.

Music for the carol was composed by John Wainwright, an English church organist and composer.


Here are the words to 'Christians Awake':

Christians, awake, salute the happy morn
Whereon the Saviour of the world was born
Rise to adore the mystery of love
Which hosts of angels chanted from above
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God incarnate and the Virgin's Son

Then to the watchful shepherds it was told
Who heard the angelic herald's voice: 'Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth
To you and all the nations upon earth
This day hath God fulfilled His promised word;
This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord.'

He spake, and straightaway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire
The praises of redeeming love they sang
And heaven's whole orb with alleluias rang
God's highest glory was their anthem still
Peace upon earth and unto men goodwill

To Bethlehem straight the shepherds ran
To see the wonder God had wrought for man
And found, with Joseph and the blessed Maid
Her Son, the Saviour, in a manger laid
Amazed, the wondrous story they proclaim
The earliest heralds of the Saviour's name

Let us, like these good shepherds, them employ
Our grateful voices to proclaim the joy
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss
From His poor manger to His bitter cross
Treading His steps, assisted by His grace
Till man's first heavenly state again takes place

Then may we hope, the angelic thrones among
To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song
He that was born upon this joyful day
Around us all His glory shall display
Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing
Of angels and of angel-men the King."

Answer: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

The correct answer is 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel'.

The Website Carols.org.uk reports the carol was originally written in Latin text in the 12th Century.

"The author of the words and composer to the music of 'O Come, O Come Emmanuel' are unknown," the Website reports. "It is, however, believed that the melody was of French origin and added to the text a hundred years later. The Latin was translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851."

Here are the words to 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel':

"O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel."

Answer: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Wikipedia reports 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day' is based on the 1863 poem 'Christmas Bells' by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

"The song tells of the narrator's despair, upon hearing Christmas bells, that 'hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men'," Wikipedia reports. "The carol concludes with the bells carrying renewed hope for peace among men."

Here are the words to 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day':

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
'There is no peace on earth,' I said;
'For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.'"

Answer: I Saw Three Ships

The correct answer is 'I Saw Three Ships', a carol which is more popular in the the United Kingdom than North America.

The author of the lyrics and composer of the music for 'I Saw Three Ships' is unknown, although it is believed to be an English carol from the Victorian era.

"The theme for 'I Saw Three Ships' is extremely optimistic and the repetition rate of the chorus means that the carol will be well remembered," states the Website Carols.org.uk

Here are the words to 'I Saw Three Ships':

"I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning."

Answer: The First Noel

The correct answer is 'The First Noel'. Although the Christmas carol is extremely popular, no one knows for certain who wrote the words. According to Wikipedia, the carol is of Cornish origin and it was first published in 'Carols Ancient and Modern' in 1823. According to Hymnary.org, the carol has been published in 333 different hymn books over the years.

Here are the words to the Christmas carol 'The First Noel':

"The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Refrain:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.

[Refrain]

And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.

[Refrain]

This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.

[Refrain]

Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

[Refrain]

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.

[Refrain]"