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Christians Awake/Christians Awake, Salute The Happy Morn
Public Domain Hymn; Words: John Byrom, 1745; Music: Yorkshire, John Wainright, 1750
ARTIST: Ekins Payne Jubilee Singers circa 1923-29.
SHEET MUSIC:
DATE: Words: John Byrom, 1745
CATEGORY: Traditional and Public Domain Gospel
RECORDING INFO: Christians Awake, Salute The Happy Morn
Ekins Payne Jubilee Singers circa 1923-29
OTHER NAMES: Christians Awake, Salute The Happy Morn
RELATED TO:
SOURCES:
NOTES: "Christians Awake" is a public domain hymn sung by the African-American group, the Ekins Payne Jubilee Singers circa 1923-29. The words of the first verse are standard words by John Byrom in 1745 and the tune is the standard Yorkshire by John Wainright in 1750. I haven't transcribed the second verse yet.
Christians Awake- Ekins Payne Jubilee Singers 1923-29
Organ accompaniment
Christians, awake, salute the happy morn
Where the Savior of the world was born.
Rise to adore the mystery of love
Which hosts of angels chanted from above,
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God incarnate and the virgin’s Son.
Organ solo
[unknown second verse]
CHRISTIANS, AWAKE, SALUTE THE HAPPY MORN Words: John Byrom, 1745; Music: Yorkshire, John Wainright, 1750
John Byrom (1691-1763) Words: John Byrom, 1745. Byrom had several children, but his favorite was his daughter Dolly. In December 1745, after a romp with Dolly, he promised to write her something for Christmas; it was to be written especially for her, and no one else. The delighted Dolly reminded her father of his promise each day as Christmas grew nearer. On Christmas morning, when she ran down to breakfast, she found several presents awaiting her. Among them was an envelope addressed to her in her father’s handwriting. It was the first thing she opened, and to her great delight, it proved to be this Christmas carol. The original manuscript is headed “Christmas Day for Dolly.” It was first published in Harrop’s Manchester Mercury in 1746.
Christians, awake, salute the happy morn
Whereon the Savior of the world was born.
Rise to adore the mystery of love
Which hosts of angels chanted from above,
With them the joyful tidings first begun
Of God incarnate and the virgin’s Son.
Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
Who heard th’angelic herald’s voice, “Behold,
I bring good tidings of a Savior’s birth
To you and all the nations of the earth;
This day hath God fulfilled His promised Word;
This day is born a Savior, Christ the Lord.”
He spoke; and straightaway the celestial choir
In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire;
The praises of redeeming love they sang,
And Heav’n’s whole orb with alleluias rang.
God’s highest glory was their anthem still,
Peace on the earth and unto men good will.
To Bethl’hem straight th’enlightened shepherds ran
To see the wonder God had wrought for man
And found, with Joseph and the blessèd maid,
Her Son, the Savior, in a manger laid;
Then to their flocks, still praising God, return,
And their glad hearts with holy rapture burn.
Like Mary let us ponder in our mind
God’s wondrous love in saving lost mankind!
Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,
From His poor manger to His bitter cross,
Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,
Till man’s first heav’nly state again takes place.
Then may we hope, th’angelic hosts among,
To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song.
He that was born upon this joyful day
Around us all His glory shall display.
Saved by His love, incessantly we sing
Eternal praise to Heav’n’s almighty King.
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