Christmas Carol Sing-Along · Advent
Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending
Get ready for Christmas. Practise the carols at home, in your own time, on your own or with family and friends. First hear it, then sing it.
1 Listen
Let the choir sing it to you. Follow the music and the words.
2 Sing
Now it’s your turn. The organ plays, and the gold note shows the way.
John Cennick published this Advent hymn in 1752; Charles Wesley rewrote it in 1758. John Wesley printed the tune in 1765.
On a phone? Turn it sideways and tap the full-screen button, and the music fills the screen.
John Cennick was an early Methodist preacher who later joined the Moravians. He published an Advent hymn in 1752, and in 1758 Charles Wesley rewrote it. Martin Madan then blended the two versions into the hymn we know.
The rest of the story
The tune, Helmsley, is credited to Thomas Olivers, one of John Wesley’s preachers, who is said to have heard it whistled in the street. John Wesley printed it in 1765.
The words
Lo, he comes with clouds descending,
once for favoured sinners slain;
thousand thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train:
alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
God appears on earth to reign.
Those dear tokens of his passion
still his dazzling body bears;
cause of endless exultation
to his ransomed worshippers:
with what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture,
gaze we on those glorious scars.
Yea, amen, let all adore thee,
high on thine eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory,
claim the kingdom for thine own:
O come quickly, O come quickly, O come quickly,
alleluia! come, Lord, come!