Josiah Holland (1819-1881) was the author of several books, including nonfiction works like a History of Western Massachusetts and a Life of Abraham Lincoln, and a number of novels, including Bay Path and Kathrina. He became the first editor of Scribner’s Magazine. He also published three volumes of poetry; the text for this carol was published in 1874.

Karl Harrington (1861-1953), professor of Latin at Wesleyan University, editor of the 1905 Methodist Hymnal, found Holland’s poem in 1904, set it to music, and included it in that hymnbook. In the following two decades other composers set the lyrics to other tunes; but Harrington’s is the melody that has stood the test of time.

The hymn seems child-like in its simplicity, as it sings of the birth of our Savior and King. Yet it still contains two important insights. First, this birth of Jesus the King isn’t just a lovely old story to which we can lend a romantic ear: the last stanza calls us to a strong personal response, rejoicing and indeed shouting in gladness for this message, and ourselves repeating the songs of the angel, telling the good news to others. And second, the middle two stanzas remind us that the message about this newborn King, the child of the virgin, is not just for us, but for all the nations of the earth.

1. There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky!
There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry!
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

2. There’s a tumult of joy o’er the wonderful birth,
For the virgin’s sweet boy is the Lord of the earth.
Aye! the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

3. In the light of that star lie the ages impearled;
And that song from afar has swept over the world.
Every heart is aflame, and the beautiful sing
In the homes of the nations that Jesus is King.

4. We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song
That comes down through the night from the heavenly throng.
Aye! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,
And we greet in his cradle our Savior and King

Here are the Bennett Sisters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4wFYrCjCXM