Oh, Little Town Of Bethlehem

(album: Christmas Eve With Burl Ives - 1957)

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 the fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human 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

The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight