I'm not sure why Adger Pace's name was added to the credits in the Shapenote hymnal. He doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere else in this thread. Does anyone know what he contributed to to the music or lyrics to the song?



Martha, the lyrics you posted are almost identical to those posted earlier by Sorcha. ("Rest" rhymes better with "blest" but I kind of like the sense of the word "grace" better, in the last verse. And I think maybe whoever did the liner notes for Wynonna was probably an auditory speller who "folk processed" the line "the crown is won" into the rather oxymoronic "the crowd is one." *g*    But in all the variations posted here, there are some odd grammatical sequences, and if I cared about that, I'd probably sing it this way.

(Punctuation added to the lyrics.)

BEAUTIFUL STAR OF BETHLEHEM
(Adger M. Pace/R. Fisher Boyce)

O Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem,
Shining afar through shadows dim,
Giving the light for those who've long gone on
And guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay,
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem, shine on.

Chorus:
O Beautiful Star (beautiful, beautiful star)
Of Bethlehem (of Bethlehem),
Shine upon us until the glory dawn (glory dawn).
Give us a light to light the way
Into the land of perfect day.
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem, shine on.

O beautiful star, the hope of light
Guiding the pilgrim through the night
Over the mountains till the break of dawn
And into the light of perfect day,
And giving out a lovely ray,
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem, shine on.

(Cho.)

O beautiful star, the hope of Grace
For the redeemed, the good and the blest
Yonder in glory when the crown is won,
Jesus is now the star divine;
Brighter and brighter He will shine.
Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem, shine on.