People, look East

[Edith Thurmond]

BESANCON CAROL (The arrangement by Archer is beautiful.)

People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Rose, is on the way.


Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Star, is on the way.

Angels, announce to man and beast
Him who cometh from the East.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

Words and original music by Eleanor Farjeon

[Jim Chabot]

Thanks so much for posting this Edith. I'm planning on using the first verse, read as poetry, as a bridge between our candle lighting and the congregational singing tomorrow morning.

[Kami Tuenning]

Oh, my Edith. I sang this at Mass last Sunday. I was so moved by lyrics I kept a mental note to write the hymn down and then forgot to. Thank you for the post.

BESANCON CAROL (The arrangement by Archer is beautiful.)

People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Rose, is on the way.


Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Star, is on the way.

Angels, announce to man and beast
Him who cometh from the East.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

Words and original music by Eleanor Farjeon

[Edith Thurmond]

Oh, my Edith. I sang this at Mass last Sunday. I was so moved by lyrics I kept a mental note to write the hymn down and then forgot to. Thank you for the post.

YOU'RE welcome, Tami. Our choir sang it for the offertory anthem and both music and words stirred my heart quite a bit. Glad you and Jim found something useful from the post.

Blessings this Advent,

-et-

[John Kennedy]

It's in my church's hymnal - I try to move my congregation to learning new hymns without it being unduly painful to them.