Words: Anonymous, before 1923.
Music: Gloria, old French carol. A slightly different arrangement is used by Angels We Have Heard on High.
If you know the author
Hearken, all! what holy singing
Now is sounding from the sky!
’Tis a hymn with grandeur ringing,
Sung by voices clear and high.
Refrain
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
On the plain, the simple shepherds
Watched their flocks the long night through;
From on high they heard the voices,
Sounding through the heavenly blue.
Refrain
See, within the manger lowly,
Wide the Christ Child spreads His arms.
Raise to Him your joyful voices,
Sing we all Noel, Noel.
Refrain