A Night of Hope and Light on Earth

On a frozen hillside outside of Bethlehem
Shepherds watch their sheep beneath the sky
Sitting by the fireside, all rough and ready men
That's how they earn their keep, as all of Bethl'hem sleeps nearby

Oo As the world just slips on by

Shepherds by the fire, they live from day to day
Working nights to earn their daily bread
They long for their Messiah, just like the Scriptures say
They watch the fire burn and in their hearts they yearn

For a day when people say, God is with us
For a night of hope and light on Earth
For a change some news so strange and wonderful
How they pray to see the Saviour's birth

Then the stars are falling, falling from the sky
And the hill shines bright as any day
The shepherds, blindly crawling, and trembling as they cry
Then from the dazzling light a voice calls in the night and says

Oo, there's no need to be afraid

Everything is changing, I bring you good news
Christ the Lord is born in Bethlehem
The Earth is rearranging, and God is breaking through
A bright and joyful dawn, the night at last has gone

Now's the day when people say, God is with us
Here's the night of hope and light on Earth
Here's the change the news so strange and wonderful
Now's the day you see the Saviour's birth

Then there comes a roaring, the curtain draws aside
All of Heaven's glory blazes through
Heaven's angels pouring - a great and shining tide
A multitude and more, all praising God in glory

Glory to God on high! Glory to God on high
Glory be to God, be to God on high
Glory to God on high

Glory to God in the Highest Heaven Let there be peace on Earth
Glory to God in the Highest Heaven Let there be peace on Earth

Peace once more descending upon the hillside here
The glory fades and rises in the sky
The angels' song is ending, it's echoes disappear
The shepherds rub their eyes, and gaze into the skies and cry

Oo tears in their eyes, now the men arise, they cry for joy for Christ is born
They cry for joy for Christ is born