The night is dark— as the herders sleep
Trusting in—the dogs to keep
The wolves away—the coyotes too
The things that dogs—are trained to do
The sheep were penned—in the stone coral
The breeze on the night—whispering all is well
When the stillness that had fallen—cross the land
Was suddenly broken—by an angel band
Sudden like—a lightning bolt
The herders wake—with a jolt
And they are bathed—in a beam of light
A light they never—saw so bright
And music played—upon their ears
Gentle, soothing—easing fears
So they knelt—in the light
Surrounded by—the darkest night
Wondering at—what this could mean
These things that—they had just seen
The music rose—the music fell
Then the heavens—seemed to swell
And they swelled and swelled—till they gave birth
To the chorus of heaven—given to earth
By thousands of angels—across the night air
Singing in harmony—songs angels share
Singing of hope—- and of peace and of joy
Singing of the birth—of a baby boy
God Himself has—come to earth
The virgin now—has given birth
Follow the angel—come and see
The baby born—to set man free
Shepherds following—the angel in awe
Not understanding—all they had saw
Thinking and puzzling—as they wandered on down
Stopping at a barn—on the wrong side of town
The door was slid open—so they could go in
Never did they—see the angel again
And there he was—in the manger of straw
And they knelt before—the baby they saw
Cause this was the child—that caused the angels sing
Our Lord, our Messiah, our Savior and King
At least, that’s the view here from behind the grindstone.
