Angels We Have Heard On High

Carol, France.

“Angels we have heard on high” is a Christmas carol whose words are based on the traditional French carol “Les Anges dans nos campagnes” (literally, “Angels in our countryside”), composed by an unknown author in Languedoc, France.

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.

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Contents

Sing-Along Video with Lyrics

Lyrics (English)

1. Angels we have on heard high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria in excelsis Deo (bis)

2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo (bis)

3. Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the newborn King
Gloria in excelsis Deo (bis)

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
Gloria in excelsis Deo (bis)

Lyrics (French)

1. Les anges dans nos campagnes
Ont entonné l’hymne des cieux,
Et l’écho de nos montagnes
Redit ce chant mélodieux :
Gloria in excelsis Deo (bis)

2. Bergers, pour qui cette fête !
Quel est l’objet de tous ces chants ?
Quel vainqueur, quelle conquête
Mérite ces cris triomphants ?
Gloria in excelsis Deo (bis)

3. Ils annoncent la naissance
Du libérateur d’Israël
Et pleins de reconnaissance
Chantent en ce jour solennel :
Gloria in excelsis Deo (bis)

4. Cherchons tous l’heureux village
Qui l’a vu naître sous ses toits
Offrons-lui le tendre hommage
Et de nos cœurs et de nos voix :
Gloria in excelsis Deo (bis)

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