Christmas carols. All of us know them, many of us love them.
Many of us are also playing in church this December, organizing a caroling group, or putting together a Christmas concert (or all of those things).
And that means many of us are looking for some ideas for what to sing and play besides having “Silent Night” on repeat.
(Not that I don’t love Silent Night, because I do, but sometimes a change of pace can be nice).
There are a ton of wonderful Christmas carols to be discovered and played, both the familiar standbys and some lesser-known but equally beautiful songs.
If you’re looking for some new (or old) carols this Christmas, this post is for you!
1. A Boy Is Born in Bethlehem
Carol Lyrics: “A Boy is born in Bethlehem, Allelujah! Allelujah! And joy is in Jerusalem, allelujah! Allelujah! And there He lay in manger poor, allelujah! Allelujah! Whose rein shall last forevermore, allelujah! Allelujah!”
2. A Child This Day Is Born
Carol Lyrics: “A Child this day is born/a Child of high renown/most worthy of a scepter/a scepter and a crown.”
3. A Great and Mighty Wonder
Carol Lyrics: “A great and mighty wonder, a full and holy cure! the Virgin bears the Infant with virgin-honour pure/
repeat the hymn again/ ‘To God on high be glory, and peace on earth to men.’ “
4. A Spotless Rose
Carol Lyrics: “A spotless Rose is blowing/sprung from a tender root/Of ancient seers’ foreshowing/Of Jesse promised fruit/its fairest bud unfolds to light/amid the cold, cold winter/and in the dark midnight.”
5. All My Heart This Night Rejoices
Carol Lyrics: “All my heart this night rejoices/as I hear far and near sweetest angel voices/’Christ is born’ their choirs are singing/’til the air everywhere now with joy is ringing.”
6. All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord
Carol Lyrics: “All praise to Thee, Eternal Lord/clothed in our human flesh and blood/a manger choosing for Your throne/while worlds on worlds are yours alone.”
7. Angels from the Realms of Glory
Carol Lyrics: “Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er all the earth/ye who sang creation’s story/now proclaim Messiah’s birth/come and worship, come and worship/worship Christ the newborn King.”
8. Angels We Have Heard on High
Carol Lyrics: “Angels we have heard on high/sweetly singing o’er the plains/and the mountain in reply/echo back their joyous strains/gloria, in excelsis Deo/gloria in excelsis Deo.”
9. As Lately We Watched
Carol Lyrics: “As lately we watched o’er our fields through the night/a star there was seen of such glorious light/all through the night angels did sing/carols so sweet of the birth of a King.”
10. As with Gladness Men of Old
Carol Lyrics: “As with gladness men of old/did the guiding star behold/as with joy they hailed its light/leading onward, beaming bright/so, most gracious God may we/evermore be led to Thee.”
11. Away in a Manger
Carol Lyrics: “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed/the little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head/the stars in the sky look down where He lay/the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.”
12. Bethlehem Down
Carol Lyrics: “Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight/winds for the spices, and stars for the gold/Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music/songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.”
13. Bethlehem’s Bright Star
Carol Lyrics: “The Magi of the East/all coming from afar/were guided by the friendly light/of Bethlehem’s bright star.”
14. Born Where the Shadows Lie
Carol Lyrics: “Born where the shadows lie/to answer every cry of man/this Child who formed all life/now breathes our breath/Born where the Father loved/born helpless to a mother’s arms/she smoothed the tears upon the face of God.”
15. Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light
Carol Lyrics: “Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light, and usher in the morning/O shepherds, shrink not with affright, but hear the angel’s warning/this Child, now weak in infancy, our confidence and joy shall be/the power of Satan breaking, our peace eternal making.”
16. Brightest and Best
Carol Lyrics: “Brightest and best of the sons of the morning/dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine aid/star of the east, the horizon adorning/guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.”
17. Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Carol Lyrics: “Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella/bring a torch, to the cradle run/it is Jesus, good folk of the village/Christ is born, and Mary’s calling/ah, ah, beautiful is the mother/ah, ah, beautiful is her Son.”
18. Candlelight Carol
Carol Lyrics: “Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow/shine on His cradle till breaking of dawn/gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo/angels are singing, the Christ Child is born.”
19. Carol of the Bells
Carol Lyrics: “Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells/all seem to say throw cares away/Christmas is here, bringing good cheer/to young and old, meek and the bold/ding dong, ding dong, that is their song/with joyful ring all caroling.”
20. Christians Awake, Salute the Happy Morn
Carol Lyrics: “Christians, awake! Salute the happy morn/whereon the Savior of the world was born/rise to adore the mystery of love/which hosts of angels chanted from above/with them the joyful tidings were begun/of God Incarnate and the virgin’s Son.”
21. Come, All Ye Shepherds, Come
Carol Lyrics: “Come, all ye shepherds, ye children of earth/come ye, bring greetings to yon heavenly birth/for Christ the Lord to all men is given/to be our Savior sent down from heaven/come welcome Him!”
22. Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Carol Lyrics: “Come, Thou long expected Jesus/born to set Thy people free/from our fears and sins release us/let us find our rest in Thee/Israel’s strength and consolation/Hope of all the earth Thou art/dear Desire of every nation/Joy of every longing heart.”
23. Coventry Carol
Carol Lyrics: “Lullay, Thou little tiny Child/by, by, lully, lullay/lullay, Thou little tiny Child/by, by, lully, lullay.”
24. Ding Dong! Merrily on High
Carol Lyrics: “Ding dong! merrily on high/in heav’n the bells are ringing/ding dong! verily the sky/is riv’n with angel singing/gloria Hosanna in excelsis/gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!”
25. Earth Today Rejoices
Carol Lyrics: “Earth today rejoices/alleluia, alleluia, alleluia/death can hurt no more/and celestial voices/alleluia, alleluia, alleluia/tell that sin is o’er/David’s sling destroys the foe/Samson lays the temple low/war and strife are done/God and man are one.”
26. Exult in the Savior’s Birth
Carol Lyrics: “Shepherds watched their flocks at night/attending lowly sheep/within a cattle shed/much stranger watch they keep/today a Savior has been born/and He is Christ, the Lord/placed within a humble trough/this Baby must be adored.”
27. Fullness of Grace
Carol Lyrics: “Fullness of grace in man’s human frailty/this is the wonder of Jesus/laying aside His power and glory/humbly He entered our world/chose the path of meanest worth/scandal of a virgin birth/born in a stable, cold and rejected/here lies the hope of the world.”
28. How Beautiful the Morning Star
Carol Lyrics: “How beautiful the morning star/shines from the firmament afar/night’s shadows are departed/each creature, casting sleep away/drinketh the light’s refreshing ray/even the broken-hearted/the deep, the steep/ocean’s treasure, Heaven’s azure/sing the story, Lord, of Thine exceeding glory.”
29. How Great Our Joy
Carol Lyrics: “While by the sheep we watched at night/glad tidings brought an angel bright/how great our joy/joy, joy, joy/praise we the Lord in heaven on high.”
30. Gaudete
Carol Lyrics (English Translation): “Rejoice, rejoice/Christ is born of the virgin Mary/rejoice, rejoice/Christ is born of the virgin Mary/the time of grace has come/which we have waited for/let us devotedly render Him joyful songs.”
31. Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
Carol Lyrics: “Gentle Mary laid her Child/lowly in a manger/there He lay, the Undefiled/to the world a stranger/such a Babe, in such a place/can he be the Savior?/ask the saved of every race/who have found His favor.”
32. Glory Be to God on High
Carol Lyrics: “Glory be to God on high/and peace, good will toward men/we praise Thee, we bless Thee/we worship Thee, we glorify Thee/we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.”
33. Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Carol Lyrics: “Go, tell it on the mountain/over the hills and everywhere/go, tell it on the mountain/that Jesus Christ is born.”
34. God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
Carol Lyrics: “God rest ye merry, gentlemen/let nothing you dismay/remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day/to save us all from Satan’s power when we had gone astray/O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy/O tidings of comfort and joy.”
35. Good Christian Men, Rejoice
Carol Lyrics: “Good Christian men, rejoice/with heart and soul and voice/give ye heed to what we say/joy, joy, Jesus Christ was born today/ox and ass before him bow/and He is in the manger now/Christ is born today, Christ is born today!”
36. Hark! the Glad Sound
Carol Lyrics: “Hark! the glad sound/the Savior comes/the Savior promised long/let every heart prepare a throne/and every voice a song.”
37. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Carol Lyrics: “Hark! the herald angels sing/glory to the newborn King/peace on earth, and mercy mild/God and sinners reconciled/joyful, all ye nations rise/join the triumph of the skies/with the angelic host proclaim/’Christ is born in Bethlehem’/hark! the herald angels sing/glory to the newborn King.”
38. He Is Born
Carol Lyrics: “He is born, this Holy Child/play the oboe and bagpipes merrily/He is born this Holy Child/sing we all of the Savior mild.”
39. Here is Joy for Every Age
Carol Lyrics: “Here is joy for every age, every generation/prince and peasant, chief and sage, every tongue and nation/every tongue and nation/every rank and station/hath today salvation, Alleluia!”
40. Hodie Christus Natus Est
Carol Lyrics (English Translation): “Today Christ is born, today the Savior appears/today the angels sing on earth, and the archangels rejoice/today the just exult, saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, Alleluia!'”
41. How Brightly Beams the Morning Star
Carol Lyrics: “How brightly beams the morning star/what sudden radiance from afar/delights us with its shining?/God’s glory breaks upon the night/and fills our darkened souls with light/who long for truth were pining/Your Word, Jesus, truly feeds us, rightly leads us/life bestowing, praise such mercy overflowing.”
42. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Carol Lyrics: “I heard the bells on Christmas Day/their old familiar carols play/and wild and sweet the words repeat/of peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
43. I Wonder as I Wander
Carol Lyrics: “I wonder as I wander out under the sky/how Jesus the Savior did come for to die/for poor, ornery people like you and like I…/I wonder as I wander out under the sky.”
44. In a Manger Laid So Lowly
Carol Lyrics: “In a manger laid so lowly/came the Prince of Peace to earth/while a choir of angels holy/sang to celebrate His birth/’Glory in the highest,’ sang the angelic strain/’glory in the highest, peace on earth, goodwill to men/peace on earth, goodwill to men.'”
45. In the Bleak Midwinter
Carol Lyrics: “Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him/nor earth sustain/heaven and earth shall flee away/when He comes to reign/in the bleak mid-winter/a stable-place sufficed/the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.”
46. Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Carol Lyrics: “Infant holy, Infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall/ oxen lowing, little knowing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all/swift are winging angels singing, noels ringing, tidings bringing/Christ the Babe is Lord of all/Christ the Babe is Lord of all.”
47. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Carol Lyrics: “It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old/from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold/’peace on the earth, goodwill toward men from heaven’s all-gracious King’/the world in solemn stillness lay/to hear the angels sing.”
48. Jesus Came to Earth
Carol Lyrics: “Jesus came to earth/He lived a perfect life/He died upon the cross/then He rose from the dead/Now He is in heaven/seated on His throne/at the right hand of the Father/where heaven is His home/we praise You, Jesus, Son of God/we praise You, Jesus, Son of Man/You left Your throne of grace/to suffer in our place/so we praise You, Jesus Christ.”
49. Joy Has Dawned
Carol Lyrics: “Joy has dawned upon the world/promised from creation/God’s salvation now unfurled/hope for every nation/not with fanfares from above/not with scenes of glory/but a humble gift of love/Jesus born of Mary.”
50. Joy to the World
Carol Lyrics: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come/let earth receive her King/let every heart prepare him room/and heaven and nature sing.”
51. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Carol Lyrics: “Let all mortal flesh keep silence/and with fear and trembling stand/ponder nothing earthly minded/for with blessing in His hand/Christ our God to earth descendeth/our full homage to demand.”
52. Let All Who Are to Mirth Inclined
Carol Lyrics: “Let all who are to mirth inclined/consider well and bear in mind/what our good God has one for us/in sending His beloved Son/for to redeem our souls from thrall/Christ is the Savior of us all.”
53. Little Drummer Boy
Carol Lyrics: “Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum/a new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum/our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum/to lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum/so to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum, when we come.”
54. Lo He Comes, An Infant Stranger
Carol Lyrics: “Lo He comes, an infant stranger, of a lowly mother born/swathed and cradled in a manger/of His pristine glory shorn/Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah/praise the Incarnate Word of God.”
55. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Carol Lyrics: “Lo, how a rose e’er blooming/from tender stem hath sprung/of Jesse’s lineage coming/as men of old have sung/it came, a flower bright/amid the cold of winter/when half-spent was the night.”
56. Love Came Down at Christmas
Carol Lyrics: “Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, love divine/love was born at Christmas/stars and angels gave the sign.”
57. Maker of the Sun and Moon
Carol Lyrics: “Maker of the sun and moon/the Maker of our earth/Lo! late in time, a fairer boon/Himself is brought to birth.”
58. No Small Wonder
Carol Lyrics: “Small wonder the star,small wonder the light/the angels in chorus, the shepherds in fright/but stable and manger for God – no small wonder!”
59. Nowell Sing We
Carol Lyrics: “Nowell sing we, both all and some/now the King of peace is to come.”
60. O Come, All Ye Faithful
Carol Lyrics: “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant/come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem/come and adore Him, born the King of angels/O come let us adore Him/O Come let us adore Him/O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
61. O Come, Little Children
Carol Lyrics: “O come, little children, O come, one and all/to Bethlehem haste, to the manger so small/God’s Son for a gift has been sent you this night/to be your Redeemer, your joy and delight.”
62. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Carol Lyrics: “O come, O come, Emmanuel/and ransom captive Israel/that mourns in lowly exile here/until the Son of God appear/rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel/shall come to you, O Israel.”
63. O Hearken Ye
Carol Lyrics: “O hearken ye who would believe/the gracious tidings now receive/Gloria, Gloria/in excelsis Deo.”
64. O Holy Night
Carol Lyrics: “O holy night, the stars are brightly shining/it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth/long lay the world in sin and error pining/til He appeared and the soul felt its worth/the thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices/for yonder breaks a new and glorious dawn/fall on your knees/O hear the angel voices/O night divine/O night when Christ was born/O night, O holy night/ O night divine.”
65. O Jesus Sweet, O Jesus Mild
Carol Lyrics: “O Jesus sweet, O Jesus mild/Your Father’s will you have fulfilled/from heaven above to earth You came/and born as man You took our name/O Jesus sweet, O Jesus mild.”
66. O Little Town of Bethlehem
Carol Lyrics: “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie/across 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.”
67. O Sing a Song of Bethlehem
Carol Lyrics: “O Sing a song of Bethlehem/of shepherds watching there/and of the news that came to them/from angels in the air/the light that shone on Bethlehem/fills all the world today/of Jesus’ birth and peace on earth/the angels sing alway.”
68. Of the Father’s Love Begotten
Carol Lyrics: “Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be/He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the Ending He/of the things that are, that have been/and that future years shall see/evermore and evermore.”
69. Once in Royal David’s City
Carol Lyrics: “Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed/where a mother laid her Baby in a manger for His bed/Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child.”
70. One Small Child
Carol Lyrics: “One small Child in the land of a thousand/one small dream of a Savior tonight/one small hand reaching out to the starlight/one small Savior of life.”
71. Ring the Bells, the Christmas Bells
Carol Lyrics: “Ring the bells. the Christmas bells/chime out the wondrous story/first in song on angel tongues/it came from realms of glory/peace on earth, goodwill to men/angelic voices ringing/Christ the Lord to earth has come/His glorious message bringing.”
72. Saw You Never in the Twilight
Carol Lyrics: “Saw you never in the twilight/when the sun had left the skies/up in heaven the clear starts shining/through the gloom like silver eyes/so of old the wise men watching/saw a little stranger star/and they knew the King was given/and they followed it from far.”
73. See Amid the Winter’s Snow
Carol Lyrics: “See amid the winter’s snow/born for us on earth below/see the tender Lamb appears/promised from eternal years.”
74. Shepherd’s Pipe Carol
Carol Lyrics: “Going through the hills on a night all starry/on the way to Bethlehem/far away I heard a shepherd boy piping/on the way to Bethlehem/angels in the sky brought this message nigh/dance and sing for joy that Christ the newborn King/is come to bring us peace on earth/and He’s lying cradled there at Bethlehem.”
75. Silent Night
Carol Lyrics: “Silent night, holy night/all is calm, all is bright/round yon virgin mother and Child/holy Infant. so tender and mild/sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.”
76. Sing We Now of Christmas
Carol Lyrics: “Sing we now of Christmas, Noel sing we here/hear our grateful praises to the Babe so dear/sing we Noel, the King is born, Noel/sing we now of Christmas, sing we now Noel.”
77. Still, Still, Still
Carol Lyrics: “Still, still, still/the night is cold and chill/the virgin’s tender arms enfolding/warm and safe the Christ Child holding/still, still, still/the night is cold and chill.”
78. Sussex Carol
Carol Lyrics: “On Christmas night all Christians sing/to hear the news the angels bring/news of great joy/news of great mirth/news of our merciful King’s birth/when from our sin He set us free/all for to gain our liberty.”
79. The Birthday of a King
Carol Lyrics: “In the little village of Bethlehem/there lay a Child one day/and the sky was bright with a holy light/o’er the place where Jesus lay/Alleluia! O how the angels sang/Alleluia! How it rang/and the sky was bright with a holy light/’twas the birthday of a King.”
80. The First Noel
Carol Lyrics: “The first Noel/the angels did say/was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay/in fields where they/lay keeping their sheep/on a cold winter’s night/that was so deep/Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel/born is the King of Israel.”
81. The Holly and the Ivy
Carol Lyrics: “The holly bears a berry as bright as any blood/and Mary boor sweet Jesus Christ/to do poor sinners good.”
82. The Little Road to Bethlehem
Carol Lyrics: “As I walk down the road I sit up some/the lambs were coming homeward one by one/I heard a sheepbell softly calling them/along the little road to Bethlehem.”
83. The Newborn King Who Comes Today
Carol Lyrics: “The newborn King who comes today brings tidings of great joy/which sin can never take away/nor death nor hell destroy/rejoice, ye Gentile lands, rejoice/and hail this glorious dawn/for God comes down, frail man to crown/the Lord of life is born.”
84. The Shepherd’s Farewell
Carol Lyrics: “Thou must leave Thy lowly dwelling/the humble crib, the stable bare/Babe, all mortal babes excelling/content our earthly lot to share/loving father, loving mother/shelter Thee with tender care.”
85. The Silver Star
Carol Lyrics: “On the brow of night there shines a silver star/and the wise men gaze on its heavenly rays/’til they find the King whose throne they sought afar/in the Babe of Bethlehem/silver star, holy light/shine afar, o’er the night/til the world shall come where the young child lay/and enter the gates of the newborn day.”
86. The Star Carol
Carol Lyrics: “Long years ago, on a deep winter’s night/high in the heavens a star shone bright/while in the manger a wee Baby lay/sweetly asleep on a bed of hay.”
87. The Three Kings
Carol Lyrics: “Three kings from Persian lands afar/to Jordan follow the pointing star/and this the quest of the travelers three/where the newborn King of the Jews may be/full royal gifts they bear for the King/gold, incense, myrrh are their offering.”
88. There is a Flower
Carol Lyrics: “There is a flower sprung of a tree/the root thereof is called Jesse/a flower of price/there is none such in paradise.”
89. There is Faint Music
Carol Lyrics: “There is faint music in the night/and pale wings fanned by silver flight/a frosty hill with tender glow/for countless stars that shine on snow/a shelter from the winter storm/a starlit manger safe and warm/and Mary singing lullabies/to hush her baby’s sleepy sighs.”
90. There’s a Song in the Air
Carol Lyrics: “There’s a song in the air, there’s a star in the sky/there’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry/and the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing/for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King.”
91. Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
Carol Lyrics: “Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingle crown/when Thou camest to earth for me/but in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room/for Thy holy nativity/O come to my heart, Lord Jesus/there is room in my heart for Thee.”
92. Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor
Carol Lyrics: “Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor/all for love’s sake becamest poor/thrones for a manger didst surrender/sapphire-paved courts for stable poor/Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor/all for love’s sake becamest poor.”
93. To a Maid Engaged to Joseph
Carol Lyrics: “To a maid whose name was Mary the angel Gabriel came/’Fear not’ the angel told her, ‘I come to bring good news/good news I come to tell you/good news, I say, good news.'”
94. To Us a Child of Hope Is Born
Carol Lyrics: “To us a Child of hope is born/to us a Son is given/Him shall the tribes of earth obey/Him all the hosts of heaven.”
95. We Three Kings of Orient Are
Carol Lyrics: “We three kings of Orient are/bearing gifts we traverse afar/field and fountain, moor and mountain/following yonder star/O star of wonder, star of night/star with royal beauty bright/westward leading, still proceeding/guide us to thy perfect Light.”
96. What Child Is This?
Carol Lyrics: “What Child is this, who laid to rest/on Mary’s lap is sleeping/whom angels greet with anthems sweet/while shepherds watch are keeping/this, this is Christ the King/whom shepherds guard and angels sing/haste, haste to bring Him laud/the Babe, the Son of Mary.”
97. What Sweeter Music
Carol Lyrics: “What sweeter music can we bring/than a carol, for to sing/the birth of this our heavenly King?/Awake the voice, awake the string!”
98. When Came in Flesh the Incarnate Word
Carol Lyrics: “When came in flesh the Incarnate Word/the heedless world slept on/and only simple shepherds heard/that God had sent His Son.”
99. While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Carol Lyrics: “While shepherds watched their flocks by night/all seated on the ground/an angel of the Lord came down/and glory shone around.”
100. Who Is He in Yonder Stall?
Carol Lyrics: “Who is He in yonder stall at Whose feet the shepherds fall?/Who is He in deep distress, fasting in the wilderness?’Tis the Lord, O wondrous story/’tis the Lord, the King of glory/at His feet the shepherds fall/crown Him, crown Him Lord of all.”
What are your favorite Christmas carols? Leave a comment below!