How dark was the night of his coming! How bleak was the wind on the hill! How many who slept till cock-crowing Had little to wake for but ill. Good shepherds, who stare into heaven, What see you so fair and so rare? What glory transfigures your faces? What songs are enchanting the air? Those dutiful shepherds saw angels Where most of us only see night; Their beautiful vision escapes us Who cease to believe in the light. The song is tossed back into darkness By winds that are bitter with hate; But shepherds have found in a manger That Saviour the ages await. You angels, we see you, we hear you! We stand with our backs to the wind! The longer we listen, the stronger Your message of hope for mankind. You skeptics and cynics, forgive us For leaving you out in the cold: We'll come back with songs of salvation, Good news that shall never grow old.