Song 9 in The Christmas Songbook
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Also known as: St. Louis
Every recording starts with four clicks to set the speed. Start with the slow one. Tap ▶ to play.
Piano
For The Christmas Songbook (piano edition).
Slow (70% speed) (1:12)
Learn with this one first.
Normal speed (0:52)
The speed printed on the page.
Play-along (0:52)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.
Ukulele
For The Christmas Songbook (ukulele edition).
Slow (70% speed) (1:12)
Learn with this one first.
Normal speed (0:51)
The speed printed on the page.
Play-along (0:51)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.
Guitar
For The Christmas Songbook (guitar edition).
Slow (70% speed) (1:12)
Learn with this one first.
Normal speed (0:51)
The speed printed on the page.
Play-along (0:51)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.
Kalimba
For The Christmas Songbook (kalimba edition).
Slow (70% speed) (1:12)
Learn with this one first.
Normal speed (0:51)
The speed printed on the page.
Recorder
For The Christmas Songbook (recorder edition).
Slow (70% speed) (1:12)
Learn with this one first.
Normal speed (0:52)
The speed printed on the page.
Play-along (0:52)
Just the accompaniment, no tune: you play or sing the melody.
All the words
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth,
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together,
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth!How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in;
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
About this song
- Music
- Lewis H. Redner (1831–1908), tune ST. LOUIS
- Words
- Phillips Brooks (1835–1893)
- First published
- Written 1868 for Holy Trinity Church, Philadelphia; printed 1874 (leaflet), in hymnals from 1892
- Copyright
- Public domain in the US, UK and EU. The arrangement and recordings belong to the book.