What Christmas Carol Are These Words From? Quiz

Answer: Away In a Manger

According to Wikipedia, the words for 'Away In a Manger' were first published in the May 1884 issue of 'The Myrtle', a periodical of the Universalist Publishing House in Boston, Massachusetts. Legend has it Martin Luther wrote the classic song, but various Websites report such a view is incorrect. The consensus is 'Away In a Manger' was probably written in the mid-1800s by an anonymous American.

"Although we may never know who wrote the song we can still find inspiration in the story of the song itself," states the Website Bibleheartburn.com. "It tells us of the incredible humble birth of the greatest man who ever lived and the more I think of it the deeper in awe I fall. This song for children also reminds me of Jesus' words teaching us that to such belong the kingdom of heaven. We must learn to become like children in order to commune with God."

Here are the words to 'Away In a Manger':

"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there."

Answer: We Three Kings

The correct answer is 'We Three Kings', written by John H. Hopkins.

According to Wikipedia, Hopkins was born in Pittsburgh in 1820 and served as a journalist for a brief while before attending General Theological Seminary in New York.

"He wrote words and music to his most famous hymn, 'We Three Kings', as part of a Christmas pageant for his nieces and nephews," Wikipedia reports. "It is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his 'Carols, Hymns and Songs' in 1863."

Here are the words to 'We Three Kings':

"We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

[Refrain]

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.

[Refrain]

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

[Refrain]

Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.

[Refrain]"

Answer: Silent Night

The correct answer is 'Silent Night', a carol written by Josef Mohr.

Mohr was born at Salzburg, Austria, on Dec. 11, 1792 and was ordained a priest in 1815. He wrote other hymns as well, but 'Silent Night' is the only one that was translated into English.

Without question, 'Silent Night' is one of the best known Christmas carols.

I remember once being caught up in the hurly-burly of Christmas shopping, frantically rushing from one store to another in a shopping mall when I heard a Salvation Army choir sing 'Silent Night'. It caused me to stop in my tracks and the words permeated into my soul. With everything put into perspective, the rest of the day went much better.

Here are the words to 'Silent Night':

"Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!"

Answer: Joy to the World

'Joy to the World' is the correct answer.

The ever-popular Christmas carol was written by Englishman Isaac Watts in 1719. According to Wikipedia, Watts based the carol on the second half of Psalm 98. "The music was adapted and arranged to Watts' lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody." Wikipedia reports.

Watts, of course, is known as the father of hymnody. Before him, Christians sang only hymns directly from the Psalms in the Old Testament.

Wikipedia also states as of the late 20th century, 'Joy to the World' was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America.

Here are the words to 'Joy to the World':

"Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love."

Answer: O Holy Night

'O Holy Night' was written by Placide Cappeau in 1847 in France and titled 'Cantique de Noël'. The music for the 'O Holy Night' was composed by Adolphe Adam and John S. Dwight translated the carol into English. According to Hymnyary.org, Cappeau wrote the words to the carol while traveling in a stagecoach to Paris, between Macon and Dijon.

Sharefaith.com reports Cappeau had his hand surgically amputated at the age of eight years following a tragic gunshot accident. In spite of Cappeau's handicap he went on to win awards as an artist and a journalist.

Here are the words to 'O Holy Night':

"O, holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, oh, hear the angel voices!
Oh, night divine, oh, night when Christ was born!
Oh, night divine, oh, night, oh, night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need-to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother,
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! Oh, praise His name forever!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!"

Answer: O Little Town of Bethlehem

The correct answer is 'O Little Town of Bethlehem'. The Christmas carol was written by Phillips Brooks in 1868. Brooks was born December 13, 1835, in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Harvard College in 1855. Four years after his graduation, he was ordained as an Episcopal minister. According to Hymnary.org, Brooks spent Christmas in 1866 in Bethlehem and wrote 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' for his Sunday school class in 1868.

Here are the words to the Christmas carol 'O Little Town of Bethlehem':

"O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to all on earth.

How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to man hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him still
the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray.
Cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel."

Answer: Do You Hear What I Hear?

'Do You Hear What I Hear?' was written by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne in 1962. According to Wikipedia, the husband-wife team wrote the Christmas carol as "a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis."

"Regney had been invited by a record producer to write a Christmas song, but he was hesitant due to the commercialism of the Christmas holiday," Wikipedia states. "It has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of artists."

Here are the words to the Christmas carol 'Do You Hear What I Hear?':

"Said the night wind to the little lamb,
'Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite.'

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
'Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the the sea,
With a voice as big as the the sea.'

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
'Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold--
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold.'

Said the king to the people everywhere,
'Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light.'"

Answer: Angels We Have Heard On High

The correct answer is 'Angels We Have Heard On High', a Christmas carol of French origin. However, no one knows exactly who wrote the words to the beloved carol.

"The words of the song are based on a traditional French carol known as Les Anges dans nos campagnes (literally, 'Angels in our countryside') composed by an unknown author in Languedoc, France," Wikipedia states. "That song has received many adjustments or alignments including its most common English version that was translated in 1862 by James Chadwick, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, northeast England. The carol quickly became popular in the West Country, where it was described as 'Cornish' by R.R. Chope, and featured in Pickard-Cambridge's Collection of Dorset Carols."

The carol has been translated into a number of other languages as well, including German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Gaelic.


Here are the words to '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.

Refrain:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heavenly song?

[Refrain]

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the new-born King.

[Refrain]"

Answer: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Charles Wesley wrote the classic Christmas carol 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' in 1793. Wesley was born in England and is credited with writing 6,000 hymns over the years. He was a co-founder of the Methodist movement with his older brother John Wesley. According to Wikipedia, the popular version of the carol is the result of alterations by "various hands", including George Whitefield and Martin Madan.

Here are the words to the ever-popular Christmas carol:

"Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel!

Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Risen with healing in his wings,
Light and life to all he brings,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lay His glory by
Born that man no more may die

Come Desire of Nations come,
Fix in us thy humble home.
Rise, the woman's conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head.
Adam's likeness now efface
Stamp thine image in its place."

Answer: While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks

The words to the Christmas carol 'While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks' are attributed to Irish hymnist, lyricist and England's Poet Laureate, Nahum Tate. The exact date of Tate's composition is not known, but Wikipedia states, the words appeared in Tate's and Nicholas Brady's 1700 supplement to their New Version of the Psalms of David of 1696.

"It was the only Christmas hymn authorized to be sung by the Anglican Church," Wikipedia reports. "Before 1700 only the Psalms of David were permitted to be sung."

Here are the words to the Christmas carol:

"While Shepherds watch their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone arond
'Fear not,' said he for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind
'Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind'.

'To you in David's town this day
Is born of David's line
The Savior who is Christ the Lord
And this shall me the sign
The heav'n'ly babe you there shall find
To human view displayed
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands
And in a manger laid.'

Thus spoke the seraph and forth-with
Appeared a shiny throng
Of angels praising God who thus
Addressed their joyful song
'All glory be to God on high
And on the earth be peace
Goodwill hence-forth from heav'n to men
Begin and never cease'."