The star of Bethlehem (Weatherly, set by S. Adams) (The Lied and Art Song Texts Page: Texts and Translations to Lieder, mélodies, canzoni, and other classical vocal music)


It was the eve of Christmas.
The snow lay deep and white,
I sat beside my window,
And look'd into the night,
I heard the church bells ringing,
I saw the bright stars shine,
And childhood came again to me,
With all its dreams divine.

Then, as I list'ned to the bells,
And watch'd the skies afar.
Out of the East majestical,
There rose one radiant star;
And ev'ry other star grew pale
Before that heav'nly glow,
It seem'd to bid me follow
And I could not choose but go.

It seem'd to bid me follow,
And I could not choose but go.
From street to street it led me
By many a mansion fair,
It shone thro' dingy casement
On many a garret bare;
From highway on to highway,
Thro' alleys dark and cold,
And where it shone the darkness
Was flooded all with gold.

Sad hearts forget their sorrow,
Rough hearts grew soft and mild,
And weary little children
Turned in their sleep and smiled;
And many a homeless wanderer
Uplifted patient eyes
Seeming to see a home at last
Beyond those starry skies.

Seeming to see a home at last
Beyond those starry skies.
And then me thought earth faded,
I rose as borne on wings.
Beyond the waste of ruined lives,
The press of human things;
Beyond the toil and shadow,
Above the want and woe,
My old self and its darkness seemed
Left on Earth below.

And onward, upward shone the star,
Until it seem'd to me,
It flashed upon the golden gates,
And o'er the crystal sea;
And then the gates rolled backward,
I stood where angels trod;
It was the star, the star of Bethlehem
Had led me up to God.
The star, the star, had led me up to God.

Authorship

Frederick E. Weatherly (1848-1929)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Stephen Adams (1844-1913) [pseudonym]

Date added to the website: 2008-07-17.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!
- Emily

I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.