While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The Angel of the Lord came down,
And Glory shone around.

Chorus:

Sweet bells, sweet chiming Christmas bells,
Sweet bells, sweet chiming Christmas bells,
They lead us on our heav'nly way, sweet chiming bells.
They lead us on our heav'nly way, sweet chiming bells.

"Fear not" said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled minds,
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.

To you in David's town this day,
Is born of David's line;
A Saviour who is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be your sign."

abc | midi | pdf

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Source: Jack Goodison, Jack Goodison's Collection of Local and Traditional Christmas Carols, Sheffield, 1992/1993/2001.

Notes:
While Shepherds Watched turns up in many forms in the South Yorkshire carol tradition, sung to a wide selection of tunes; including Cranbrook (better known nowadays as Ilkley Moor Baht'at). This particular set, traditionally sung at Stannington, is a particular favourite. The tune is known as Sweet Chiming Bells, and is usually sung in four parts. This can be a bit of a problem to represent properly in abc, so for now the melody (the "top" part") is given in abc, and a link to a midi file of the full tune is added.

Sweet Chiming Bells (midi: four parts)

Roud: 936 (Search Roud index at VWML) Take Six
Laws:
Child: