WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED lyrics ***

While Shepherds Watched

The carol While Shepherds
Watched dates back to 1703.
The words for While shepherds
watched were written by Nahum
Tate, who was the Poet Laureate
in the reign of Queen Anne, and
Nicholas Brady. Only the Psalms
of David were sung in the
Anglican Church prior to that
time. Tate and Brady were the
first to paraphrase the psalms for
singing in rhyme which then
became distinctive of their work.
The familiar melody used for
While Shepherds Watched was
taken from "Siroe," an opera by
George Frederick Handel.

On a lighter note children love to

parody the words “While
shepherds watched their flocks
by night” and replacing them with
“While Shepherds wash their
socks by night!”

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WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED lyrics ***

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While Shepherds Watched : Lyrics

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While shepherds watched

Their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around
And glory shone around

"Fear not," he said,

For mighty dread
Had seized their troubled minds
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind,
To you and all mankind."

"To you in David's

Town this day
Is born of David's line
The Savior who is Christ the Lord
And this shall be the sign
And this shall be the sign."

"The heavenly Babe

You there shall find
To human view displayed
And meanly wrapped
In swathing bands
And in a manger laid
And in a manger laid."

https://www.carols.org.uk/while_shepherds_watched.htm[8/29/2018 11:35:58 PM]

WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED lyrics ***

Thus spake the seraph,

And forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song
Addressed their joyful song

"All glory be to
God on high
And to the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth
From heaven to men
Begin and never cease
Begin and never cease!"

While Shepherds Watched – Christmas Carol Music

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While Shepherds Watched

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