Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 2 - See, Amid the Winter's Snow (lyrics: Edward Caswall; music: Sir John Goss) [England]

Edward Caswall wrote the poem See, amid the winter's snow shortly after converting from the Church of England to the Roman Catholic Church and joining the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri. It was first published in 1858 as part of The Masque of Mary and Other Poems. In 1871, John Goss wrote the tune Humility specifically for the carol. Later in the year, the publisher Bramley and Stainer selected See, amid the winter's snow to be included in their Christmas Carols Old and New hymn book. The carol went on to became very popular, though some of the original seven verses were cut from later publications.

The hymn tells the story of the nativity from the viewpoint of the shepherds and captures their wonder and joy when they see Jesus. The refrain to each verse continually adds to that excitement by declaring Christmas Day to be the dawn of redemption for the whole world.

See, amid the winter's snow, 

Born for us on earth below, 

See, the tender Lamb appears, 

Promis'd from eternal years!

Refrain

Hail, thou ever-blessed morn! 

Hail, Redemption's happy dawn! 

Sing through all Jerusalem, 

Christ is born in Bethlehem !

Lo, within a manger lies 

He who built the starry skies; 

He, who thron'd in height sublime, 

Sits amid the Cherubim!  Refrain

Say, ye holy Shepherds, say, 

What your joyful news to-day; 

Wherefore have ye left your sheep 

On the lonely mountain steep?  Refrain

"As we watch'd at dead of night, 

Lo, we saw a wondrous light; 

Angels singing peace on earth, 

Told us of the Saviour's birth."  Refrain

Sacred Infant all divine, 

What a tender love was Thine; 

Thus to come from highest bliss, 

Down to such a world as this!  Refrain

Teach, O teach us, holy Child, 

By Thy face so meek and mild, 

Teach us to resemble Thee, 

In Thy sweet humility!  Refrain

Virgin Mother, Mary blest, 

By the joys that fill thy breast, 

Pray for us that we may prove 

Worthy of our Saviour's love.  Refrain

See, Amid the Winter's Snow - St. Thomas Choir, Fifth Avenue, New York

See, Amid the Winter's Snow - Sarah Hunt 

 

 See, Amid the Winter's Snow - Cambridge Choir of King's College