A frosty Christmas Eve
when the stars were shining
I travelled for the home
where westward falls the hill
And for many, many a village
in the darkness of the valley
Distant music reached me
peels of bells were ringing

Then spread my thoughts to olden times
to that first of Christmases
When shepherds who were watching
heard music in the fields
And they sat there and they marvelled
and they knew they could not tell
Whether it were angels or the bright stars a-singing

But to me heard afar
it was starry music
The singing of the angels
the comfort of our Lord
Words of old that come a travelling by the riches of the times
And I softly listened as I stood upon the hill
And I softly listened as I stood upon the hill