Hark! The Herald Angels Sing — Lyrics, History & Fun Facts

The History of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

The hymn was written by Charles Wesley in 1739, originally beginning with the line 'Hark how all the welkin rings,' which was later altered by George Whitefield to the familiar 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.' The melody most associated with the hymn today was adapted in 1855 by William Hayman Cummings from a cantata composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. Mendelssohn himself had stated that his tune would never suit sacred words, yet the pairing became one of the most iconic in Christmas music. Wesley wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime, but this remains among his most celebrated works.

Fun Facts About "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

• Charles Wesley's original opening line was 'Hark how all the welkin rings' — 'welkin' meaning sky
• Felix Mendelssohn, who composed the melody, explicitly said it should never be used with religious lyrics
• Charles Wesley wrote over 6,500 hymns in his lifetime
• The current version of the hymn is the result of over a century of revisions by multiple authors

Movies & TV Appearances

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" has been featured in the following movies and television specials:

• A Christmas Carol (various adaptations)
• It's a Wonderful Life
• The Bishop's Wife

Listen to "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

You can listen to "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. Search for the original version by Charles Wesley or explore the many popular covers recorded over the years.