PagineIt Came Upon the Midnight Clear is a 1849 Christmas carol that begins “It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old…”. Below are the full public-domain lyrics to print and sing, links to free sheet music, its history and fun actions for kids.
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 to men,
From heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear · words: Edmund Hamilton Sears (1849) · music: Richard Storrs Willis (“Carol”, 1850); in the UK, “Noel” arranged by Arthur Sullivan · public domain · printed from pagineapp.com
Full hymn and choir arrangements of It Came Upon the Midnight Clear are free because the song is in the public domain. Download them from these non-profit libraries:
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear was written in 1849 by Edmund Sears, a minister in Massachusetts, as a carol about peace on earth.
Look up and listen on “that glorious song of old”.
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The words are by Edmund Hamilton Sears (1849) and the music is by Richard Storrs Willis (“Carol”, 1850); in the UK, “Noel” arranged by Arthur Sullivan; it dates from 1849.
Yes. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is in the public domain, so the lyrics on this page are free to print and sing at home, school or church.
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is a good fit for children aged 6+. Try the actions on this page to keep little ones singing along.
🗓️ Updated October 2026