Back to: The Twelve Days of Christmas Carols
The song’s four verses embrace the angels’ visit to the lowly shepherds and the shepherds’ response. For many biblical scholars, the angels coming to men who worked menial jobs in the fields and informing them of the birth of the Son of God symbolizes that Christ came for all people, rich or poor, humble or powerful.
The original hymn contained eight stanzas arranged in a dialogue form alternating between the shepherds (Bergers) in stanzas one, three, and six, and the women (Femmes de Bethlehem) in stanzas two, four, and seven. The two groups join together in resounding harmony in stanzas five and eight.
In Luke 2:14, we find the canticle of the angel’s song, one of the most famous and frequently sung of the Christmas canticles. The refrain of Angels We Have Heard On High draws directly from this verse.
Angels We Have Heard On High is a song of invitation for all mankind to join with the heavenly hosts and all creation in celebrating Christ’s birth. Reflecting on a common theme found throughout the history of Christian hymnody, a cosmic chorus resounds in the first stanza. The chorus begins in heaven with the angels, and the lyrics work to bring a festive spirit to the song. The “mountains in reply” echo back in response—antiphonally, symbolizing the participation of earth, reminding one of Psalm 8 and 19.
But then, in the second stanza, asks why there is a celebration. In the third stanza, an invitation is given to join the celebration, answering the questions of the previous stanza by revealing Christ in the manger. The fourth stanza concludes the carol with the observation of Christ’s birth and the joyful response of the Christian
1. 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!
2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song? Refrain
3. Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain
4. See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise. Refrain