I sent this song to Áine for the Mudcat Songbook. It's pretty much one of those songs that just 'come to you' occasionally. I was doing housework in 1993 and humming, and found myself singing this. I toyed with the lyrics from time to time after that, but, for the most part, the song just 'found me.' My sister spontaneously harmonized with it, in a beautiful soprano descant, when I sang it for her, so that's how I 'hear' the song now. And, of course, you've gotta slap that guitar at certain points in the song, like after "Joyous!" "Joyous!"I am posting both the 1993 version and a modified one (most modifications made in 1999).
Genie
Raise Your Voices In The Song words & music by R. Jeanene Pratt 1993
4/4 timeAm Dm E
Many, many years ago, in a time of strife and woe,
E7 Am E
In a little village they call Bethlehem,
Am Dm E
God sent down a legacy, precious gift for you and me,
E7 Am E Am
Holy baby born to bring us life without end.Am E Am
Angel voices rang across the winter sky
Am Dm E E7
Telling all the world the story of the holy birth!
Am E E7
Joyous! Joyous! What a celebration!
Am Dm E E7 Am
Angel voices sang the song of Peace On Earth!
Am Dm
Shepherds toiling, oh, so hard on that blessed evening heard
E E7 Am E Am
Music floating through the skies above.
Am Dm E
From their labors long they stopped to listen to the song,
E7 Am E Am
Then went to Bethlehem to show their love.Am E Am
They stopped, they hushed, they listened while the angels sang,
Dm E E7
Telling them the greatest story they had ever heard.
Am E E7
Then joyous! Joyous! They joined the celebration,
Am Dm E E7 Am
Raised their voices in the song of Peace On Earth!
Am Dm
Centuries have passed away. Do the people of today
E E7 Am E
Know the deeper meaning of this season of the year?
Am Dm E
Many times the neon lights hide the Christmas star from sight,
E7 Am E Am
And the song of peace can be so hard to hear.Am E Am
So stop! Hush! Listen while the angels sing
Dm E E7
Telling all the world the story of the holy birth!
Am E E7
Then joyous! Joyous! Join the celebration,
Am Dm E E7 Am
Raise your voices in the song of Peace On Earth!
Am Dm E
The angelsÕ song is still alive in the blessings that we give,
E7 Am E
And it gives our hearts a reason to rejoice.
Am Dm E
You may not hear it in the air, but if you pause or say a prayer
E7 Am E Am
You will hear it echo in that still, small voice.Am E Am
So stop! Hush! Listen while the angels sing
Dm E E7
Telling all the world the story of the holy birth!
Am E E7
Then joyous! Joyous! Join the celebration,
Am Dm E E7 Am
Raise your voices in the song of Peace On Earth!Repeat last chorus, a cappella, softly on the first 2 lines, then fortissimo, with guitar on the last two lines.
©1993 R. Jeanene Pratt geniesings@yahoo.com
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Here is an alternate version, from 1999, with a few wording modifications:
Raise Your Voices In The Song
words & music by R. Jeanene Pratt ©1993
Revised Dec. 1999, Nov. 2002Many, many years ago, in a time of strife and woe,
In a little village they call Bethlehem,
Heaven sent a legacy, precious gift for you and me,
Holy baby born to be our savior and friend.Angel voices rang across the winter sky
Telling all the world the story of the holy birth.
Joyous! Joyous! What a celebration!
Angel voices sang the song of Peace On Earth!Shepherds toiling, so they say, in the hills not far away,
Heard music floating through the skies above.
From their labors long they stopped to listen to the song,
Then went to Bethlehem to show their love.They stopped. They hushed. They listened while the angels sang,
Telling them the greatest story they had ever heard.
Then joyous! Joyous! They joined the celebration,
Raised their voices in the song of Peace On Earth!Millenia have passed away. Do the people of today
Know the deeper meaning of this season of the year?
Many times the neon lights hide that ancient star from sight
And the song of peace can be so hard to hear.So stop! Hush! Listen while the angels sing
Open up your heart and soul to heavenÕs healing words,
Then joyous! Joyous! Join the celebration,
Raise your voices in the song of Peace On Earth!The angelsÕ song is still alive; in human kindness it survives,
And it gives our hearts a reason to rejoice.
You may not hear it in the air, but if you pause or say a prayer
You will hear it echo in that still, small voice.So stop! Hush! Listen while the angels sing
Open up your heart and soul to hear those healing words,
Then joyous! Joyous! Join the celebration,
Raise your voices in the song of Peace On Earth!--------------------------
Stylistic notes;
The song is meant to be done rhythmically (much more than the MIDI will show), at a moderately fast pace.
Verse 1 is done at normal volume, with sudden crescendo and fortissimo on the chorus.
The other choruses are done softly for the 1st 2 lines, followed by a burst of volume on the last 2 lines.