Carols in the Square

with
Union Chapel
Community Singers

Welcome to the Carols in the Square with the Union Chapel Community Singers in 2025!

Below you can find the the lyrics, join us in song!

Ding Dong Merrily On High

George Ratcliffe Woodward / Jehan Tabourot (aka Thoinot Arbeau)

1. Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is ris'n with angel singing.

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

2. E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

3. Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.

Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Ding Dong Bells Canon

traditional

Jingle Bells

James Lord Pierpont

1. Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,
O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright,
Oh what fun it is to sing a sleighing song tonight. Oh!

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

2. Now the ground is white, go it while you're young
Take the girls along and sing this sleighing song
Just bet a bobtailed bay, two forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh and crack! you'll take the lead. Oh!

Jingle bells, jingle bells…

Christmas Bells Canon

traditional

Ring, ting! The Joybells are ringing,
Glad children are singing for Christmas is here.

Good King Wenceslas

Václav Alois Svoboda (transl. John Mason Neale,Thomas Helmore) / trad.

1.

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight gathering winter fuel

2.

"Hither, page, and stand by me If thou know'st it, telling,

Yonder peasant, who is he? where and what his dwelling?"

"Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain;

Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain."

3.

"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine bring me pine logs hither;

Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither."

Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;

Through the rude wind's wild lament and the bitter weather.

4.

"Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger;

Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer."

"Mark my footsteps, my good page; tread thou in them boldly.

Thou shalt find the winter's rage, freeze thy blood less coldly."

5.

In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted.

Heat was in the very sod which the Saint had printed.

Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing;

Ye who will now bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

J. Fred Coots / Haven Gillespie

You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

He's making a list and checking it twice,
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice.
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

He sees you when you're sleepin',
He knows when you're awake,
he knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake.

You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is comin' to town.

Repeat

Silent Night

Joseph Moor /  Franz Xaver Gruber

1. Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

2. Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!

3. Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!

I wonder as I wander

Trad. / John Jacob Niles, arr: António Sá-Dantas

1. I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
how Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on'ry people like you and like I…
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

2. When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall,
with wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God's heaven a star's light did fall,
and the promise of ages it then did recall.

3. If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing,
he surely could have it, 'for he is the King

Kings of Orient

J. H. Hopkins

We three Kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star: 

O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign.

O star of wonder…

Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high.

O star of wonder…

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

O star of wonder…

Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Heav’n sing Alleluia, Alleluia,
The earth replies:

O star of wonder

O holy Night

Placide Cappeau / Adolphe Adam

1. O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angels’ voices!
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born;
Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine.

2. Led by the light of faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by the cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, weakness is no stranger,
behold your King before him lowly bend!
Behold your King, behold, behold your King.

Once in Royal David’s city

C. F. Alexander / H. J. Gauntlett

Once in Royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed

Mary was that mother mild
Jesus Christ, her little Child

He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all
And His shelter was a stable
And His cradle was a stall

With the poor, and mean, and lowly
Lived on earth, our Saviour holy.

And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above

And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable
With the oxen standing by
We shall see Him but in heaven
Set as God's right hand on high

When like stars his children crowned
All in white shall wait around

Gaudete

traditional

Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, Gaudete!
Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, Gaudete!

Verses 1-4 sung by UCCS, join the Chorus every time in between!

12 Days of Christmas

Traditional / Frederic Austin

1. On the first day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
A partridge in a pear tree. 

2. On the second day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

3. On the third day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

4. On the fourth day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

5. On the fifth day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Five gold rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree.

6. On the sixth day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five gold rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

7. On the seventh day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five gold rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

8. On the eighth day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Eight maids a-milking, 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five gold rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree.

9. On the ninth day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Nine ladies dancing, 
Eight maids a-milking, 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five gold rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

10. On the tenth day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Ten lords a-leaping, 
Nine ladies dancing, 
Eight maids a-milking, 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five gold rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

11. On the eleventh day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Eleven pipers piping, 
Ten lords a-leaping, 
Nine ladies dancing, 
Eight maids a-milking, 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five gold rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree.

12. On the twelfth day of Christmas, 
My true love sent to me 
Twelve drummers drumming, 
Eleven pipers piping, 
Ten lords a-leaping, 
Nine ladies dancing, 
Eight maids a-milking, 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five gold rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree!

Winter wonderland

Richard B. Smith / Felix Bernard

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? 
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland

Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay is a new bird 
He sings a love song as we go along
Walking in a winter wonderland

In the meadow, we can build a snowman
And pretend that he is Parson Brown
He'll say, "Are you married?" 
We'll say, "No man"
But you can do the job when you're in town

Later on, we'll conspire
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid, 
the plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland

Let it snow

Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne

Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Man, it doesn't show signs of stoppin'
And I've brought me some corn for poppin'
The lights are turned way down low
Let it snow, let it snow

When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate goin' out in the storm
But if you really hold me tight
All the way home, I'll be warm
And the fire is slowly dyin'
And, my dear, we're still goodbyein'
But as long as you'd love me so
Let it snow, let it snow, and snow

When we finally kiss goodnight
How I'll hate goin' out in the storm
But if you really grab me tight
All the way home, I'll be warm

Oh, the fire is slowly dyin'
And, my dear, we're still goodbyein'
But as long as you'd love me so
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Hark! the herald angels sing

Charles Wesley / F. Mendelssohn

1. Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th'angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"

2. Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin's womb:

veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th'incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"

3. Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"

We wish you a merry Christmas!

We wish you a merry Christmas… 3x
And a happy new year

Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year

Now bring us a figgy pudding… 3x
And bring some out here
Refrain

We won’t go until we get some… 3x
So bring some out here:
Refrain

Thank you for singing Carols in the Square with us!

Everyone is welcome to join the Union Chapel Community Singers 

on any Monday, 7:30pm in the 

Lower Hall of the Union Chapel. 

Join us for a nice evening of singing!

We wish you a joyous festive season and merry Christmas!