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Chords and Lyrics for Glad Christmas Bells

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Traditional Music
Traditional Lyrics

VERSE 1

G    D7                    G 
Glad Christmas bells, your music tells 

    C         Am7      D7 G 
The sweet and pleasant story;

    D7                G 
How came to earth, in lowly birth,

                     D7 G 
The Lord of life and glory. 

  
VERSE 2

G   D7              G 
Now palace hall its ceiling tall 

    C      Am7         D7 G 
His kingly head spread over,

      D7           G 
There only stood a stable rude 

                     D7 G 
The heav'nly Babe to cover. 

  
VERSE 3

G   D7              G 
Nor raiment gay, as there He lay,

 C          Am7    D7   G 
Adorned the infant stranger;

      D7              G 
Poor, humble child of mother mild,

                  D7 G 
She laid Him in a manger. 

  
VERSE 4

G   D7           G 
But from afar, a splendid star 

    C        Am7      D7  G 
The wise men westward turning;

    D7                 G 
The livelong night saw pure and bright,

                     D7  G 
Above His birthplace burning. 

  
VERSE 5

G     D7               G 
Where on the hill, all safe and still,

    C      Am7         D7 G 
The folded flocks were lying,

     D7                 G 
Down through the air an angel fair

                      D7 G 
On wing of flame came flying.

  
VERSE 6

 G    D7                   G 
"Fear not," said he, - for tremblingly

    C         Am7      D7 G 
The shepherds stood in wonder,

      D7               G 
"Glad new I bring, the promised King

                 D7 G 
Lies in a stable yonder."

  
VERSE 7

 G   D7                G 
"And by this sign, the babe divine

    C      Am7   D7  G 
You may discover surely,

  D7              G 
A manger His rude dwelling is,

                       D7  G 
There lies He, cradled poorly."

  
VERSE 8

G    D7               G 
Then swiftly came, in lines of flame,

     C         Am7     D7  G 
Like countless meteors blazing,

  D7             G 
A multitude, and with Him stood,

             D7 G 
A spectacle amazing.

  
VERSE 9

G   D7                  G 
And all the choir, with tongues of fire

      C        Am7    D7  G 
Broke forth in joyful singing,

     D7             G 
Till with their cry the very sky

                    D7  G 
From end to end was ringing.

  
VERSE 10

 G   D7           G 
"Glory to Thee forever be,

    C      Am7      D7 G 
God in the highest, glory!

     D7           G 
Good will to men, and peace again 

                   D7   G 
O earth is beaming o'er thee!"

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Chords

Below is a list of all the chords in this song. Click on a chord to learn how to play the chord on a particular instrument.

Instrument Chords
Banjo Am7 C Major D7 G Major
Guitar Am7 C Major D7 G Major
Mandolin Am7 C Major D7 G Major
Piano Am7 C Major D7 G Major
Ukulele Am7 C Major D7 G Major

Sheet Music for Glad Christmas Bells

Chords on this page may be simplified from the original version. View the sheet music for this title to see the original chords. The following sheet music is available for this title: