A frosty Christmas Eve When the stars where shining I traveled forth alone Where westward falls the hill And for many, many a village In the darkness of the valley Distant music reached me Peals of bells were ringing ♪ Then sped my thoughts to olden times To that first of Christmases When shepherds who were watching Heard music in the fields And they sat there and they marveled And they knew they could not tell Whether it were angels Or the bright stars a-singing ♪ But to me heard afar It was starry music The singing of the angels The comfort of our Lord Words of old that come a-traveling By the riches of the times And I softly listened As I stood upon the hill And I softly listened As I stood upon the hill