The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #28584   Message #839107
Posted By: Barbara Shaw
02-Dec-02 - 05:11 PM
Thread Name: Favorite religious Christmas music
Subject: Lyr Add: STAR IN THE EAST (Heber/Walker, 1853)
My favorite song this year is this old shape note song. The chords don't line up exactly where they should below, but they're there anyway.

Star in the East
Words by Reginald Heber, 1811
Music from the "Southern Harmony and Musical Companion" by William Walker, 1853


Dm                           Am
Hail the blest morn, see the great Mediator
Dm            Am       Dm Am    Dm
Down from the region of glory descend
                         Am
Shepherds go worship the Babe in the manger
Dm          Am               Dm Am   Dm
Lo, for His guard the bright angels attend.

(Chorus)
Dm            Am          C          Dm
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning
            Am            C            Am
Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid
Dm                      Am
Star in the east, the horizon adorning
Dm             Am       Dm Am      Dm
Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.

Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining
Low lies His bed with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining
Wise men and shepherds before Him do fall.

Say, shall we yield Him in costly devotion
Odors of Eden and offering divine
Gems from the mountains and
Pearls from the ocean
Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation
Vainly with gold we His favor secure
Richer by far is the heart's adoration
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.