X: 1
T: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night   [C]
%T: "Hymn for Christmas"
C: words: Nahum Tate (1700)
C: melody: William Billings
O: adapted by Darlene Wigton
S: words: https://hymnary.org/text/while_shepherds_watched_their_flocks_by
R: song
Z: 2022 John Chambers <jc:trillian.mit.edu>
M: 4/4
L: 1/8
K: C
%%continueall
"intro"[|\
"F"a2a2 "Dm"f2f2 | "C"g2g2 "Am"c2c2 | "F"f2ef "G"gfed | "C"c6
"^A"|: G2 | "C"e2e2 "F"f2e2 | "G"d2d2 "C"e3e | "Dm"f2e2 d2c2 | "G"d6
w:1.~While shep-herds watched their flocks   by night all seat-ed on the ground
w:2.~"To you, in Da-vid's town, this day,    is born of Da-vid's line
w:3.~Thus spake the ser-aph and forth-with   ap-peared a shin-ing throng
|| d2 | "C"e2ef "(Em)"g2g2 | "F"abc'2 "C"g3g | "^F"a2"(C)"g2 "F"a2"G"b2 | "C"c'6
w:an an-gel* of the Lord* came down         and glo-ry shone a-round.
w:The Sav-ior,* who is Christ* the Lord;    and this shall be the sign
w:Of an-gels,* prais-ing God,* and thus     ad-drest their joy-ful song:
"^B"|| g2 | "C"c'2c'2 "G"d'2g2 | "F"c'2ba "C"g3g | "Dm"f2e2 d2c2 | "G"g6
w:"Fear not," he said, for might-y* dread   had seized their trou-bled minds.
w:The heav-enly Babe you there shall* find  to hu-man view dis-played
w: "All glo-ry be to God on* high,          and to the earth be peace;
|| g2 | "F"a2a2 "Dm"f2f2 | "C"g2g2 "Am"c2c2 | "F"f2ef "G"gfed |[1,2 "C"c8- | c4 z2 :|
w:"Glad tid-ings of great joy I bring       to you and* all* man-*kind."
w:All mean-ly wrapped in swath-ing bands    and in a* man-*ger* laid."
w:Good-will hence-forth from Heaven to men  be-gin and* ne-*ver* ~
|[3 "Em"e6 g2 | "F"a2a2 "Dm"f2f2 | "C"g2g2 "Am"c2c2 | "F"f2ef "G"gab2 | "C"c'6 |]
w:cease. Good-will hence-forth from Heaven  to men be-gin and* ne-*ver cease."

% More modern version:
%W:2."To you in David's town this day Is born of David's line
%W:The Savior who is Christ the Lord And this shall be the sign:
%W:The heavenly babe you there shall find to human view displayed
%W:and meanly wrapped in swathing clothes and in a manger laid."
%W:
%W:3.Thus spake the angel. Suddenly appeared a shining throng
%W:of angels praising God, who thus addressed their joyful song.
%W:"All glory be to God on high and to the Earth be peace;
%W:to those on whom his favor rests goodwill shall never cease."
%W: