Twelve Day of Christmas

Day 11 - Watchman, Tell Us of the Night

Watchman, Tell Us of the Night is a beloved Christian hymn about hope and the coming of Jesus. The poem, written in 1825 by John Bowring (1792-1872), is a dialog between a Traveler and the Watchman. The Traveler asks for news of the night, and the Watchman answers, describing a glorious star heralding the dawn of God's promised day. "This hymn evokes a vivid childhood memory. Two men with deep, sonorous voices sang this song at the Christmas Eve midnight service each year for as long as I can remember. The church was dark, the watchman's solitary lantern giving the only light in a hushed sanctuary. The watchman stood at the altar, and the traveler slowly made his way down the aisle, as the two sang the question-reply verses to each other. It was hard to miss the symbolism of the lonely traveler making his way to the One Who provides light to a dark world." (from the website Hymns and Carols of Christmas)

This poem is known in two memorable settings: an 1831 version by the American composer Lowell Mason; and a music setting that uses the famous tune, Aberystwyth, written by Welsh composer Joseph Parry (in the late 1800s) which perfectly captures the anticipation of the Messiah's arrival.

1. Watchman, tell us of the night,

    What its signs of promise are.

Traveler, o'er yon mountain's height,

    See that glory beaming star.

Watchman, does its beauteous ray

    Aught of joy or hope foretell?

Traveler, yes - it brings the day,

    Promised day of Israel.

2. Watchman, tell us of the night;

    Higher yet that star ascends.

Traveler, blessedness and light,

    Peace and truth its course portends.

Watchman, will its beams alone

    Gild the spot that gave them birth?

Traveler, ages are its own;

    See, it bursts o'er all the earth.

3. Watchman, tell us of the night,

    For the morning seems to dawn.

Traveler, darkness takes its flight,

    Doubt and terror are withdrawn.

Watchman, let thy wanderings cease;

    Hie thee to thy quiet home.

Traveler, lo! the Prince of Peace,

    Lo! the Son of God is come!

Watchmen, Tell Us of the Night (Mason) - William Appling Singers

Watchmen, Tell Us of the Night (Mason) - Lillian Ember, piano

Watchmen, Tell Us of the Night (Charles Ives, based on Mason) - William Parker & Dalton Baldwin

Ives also used Mason's tune in his Symphony No. 4

Watchmen, Tell Us of the Night (Parry) - Choir of St. Peter-in-Chains Chapel, Fort Loudon, PA

Watchmen, Tell Us of the Night (Parry) - CJ Renzi, guitar

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 10 - Here's an insightful look at the hymn Watchman, tell us of the night by Richard Niell Donovan . . .

"John Bowring wrote the words of this hymn. Bowring was a brilliant man who had a special gift for languages. He is reputed to have learned a hundred different languages during his lifetime, and translated poetry into English from a number of languages.

Watchman, Tell Us of the Night was probably inspired by a rather obscure oracle in Isaiah 21:11-12, which says:

One calls to me out of Seir,

‘Watchman, what of the night?

Watchman, what of the night?’

The watchman said,

‘The morning comes, and also the night.

If you will inquire, inquire. Come back again.

The darkness of night presents many dangers, so a watchman would need to be especially alert during the hours of darkness. The dark of night is also when gremlins and goblins run through our consciousness and disturb our sleep. Darkness inspires both fear and depression. In this hymn, each verse is composed of two short speeches by a traveler. The watchman answers each of these short speeches with a short response. The traveler asks the watchman for “signs of promise”—and asks whether a beautiful star promises joy and hope.  The watchman assures the traveler that it does. The traveler asks further about the star, and the watchman says that the star promises blessedness and light - peace and truth."

Watchman, tell us of the night,
what its signs of promise are.
Traveler, what a wondrous sight:
see that glory-beaming star.
Watchman, does its beauteous ray
news of joy or hope foretell?
Traveler, yes; it brings the day,
promised day of Israel.

Watchman, tell us of the night;
higher yet that star ascends.
Traveler, blessedness and light,
peace and truth its course portends.
Watchman, will its beams alone
gild the spot that gave them birth?
Traveler, ages are its own;
see, it bursts o’er all the earth.

Watchman, tell us of the night,
for the morning seems to dawn.
Traveler, shadows take their flight;
doubt and terror are withdrawn.
Watchman, you may go your way;
hasten to your quiet home.
Traveler, we rejoice today,
for Emmanuel has come!

Watchmen, Tell Us of the Night - William Appling Singers

Watch the video here

Watchmen, Tell Us of the Night - Sabrina George (piano)

. . . and as used by Charles Ives in the first movement of his otherworldly Symphony No. 4