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Sung by the Shepherds Lyrics by Virgil Thomson

Praises and Prayers

1963

Welcome all wonders in one sight!
Eternity shut in a span!
Summer in winter! day in night!
Heaven in earth! and God in man!
Great little one, whose all-embracing birth
Lifts earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to earth!
Welcome, tho' nor to gold, nor silk
To more than Cæsar's birthright is:
Twin sister seas of virgin's milk
With many a rarely-temper'd kiss
That breathes at once both maid and mother
Warms in the one, cools in the other
She sings Thy tears asleep, and dips
Her kisses in Thy weeping eye:
She spreads the red leaves of Thy lips
That in their buds yet blushing lie
She 'gainst those mother diamonds tries
The points of her young eagle's eyes.*
Welcome—tho' not to those gay flies
Gilded i' th' beams of earthly kings
Slippery souls in smiling eyes—
But to poor shepherds, homespun things
Whose wealth's their flocks, whose wit's to be
Well read in their simplicity
Yet, when April's husband show'rs
Shall bless the fruitful Maia's bed
We'll bring the first-born of her flowers
To kiss Thy feet, and crown Thy head
To Thee, dread Lamb ! whose love must keep
The shepherds while they feed their sheep
To Thee, meek Majesty, soft King
Of simple graces and sweet loves!
Each of us his lamb will bring
Each his pair of silver doves!
At last, in fire of Thy fair eyes
Ourselves become our own best sacrifice!
Credits
Virgil Thomson

Virgil Thomson

About “Sung by the Shepherds” by Virgil Thomson

Read the complete lyrics to "Sung by the Shepherds" by Virgil Thomson from the album "Praises and Prayers" in 1963. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Sung by the Shepherds" is performed by Virgil Thomson. from the album "Praises and Prayers" in 1963 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Sung by the Shepherds", explore more songs by Virgil Thomson using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Sung by the Shepherds" is credited to Virgil Thomson. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Sung by the Shepherds" appears on "Praises and Prayers" in 1963.

Visit the Virgil Thomson artist page at /artist/virgil-thomson for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.