Hymn Lyrics

PLEASE NOTE: Not all verses may be sung and words may vary in the particular hymn presentation.

What Is This Fragrance?
Words: 17th Century French Traditional
Music: Quelle est cette odeur agréable | 17th Century French Traditional
Version One:

1. What is this lovely fragrance wafting
Like to the scents of flow’rs in spring?
Shepherds, O tell us, whence such beauty
Hear you not heav’nly caroling?
What is this lovely fragrance wafting
Like to the scents of flow’rs in spring?

2. What is this light so fair, so tender
Breaking upon our wond’ring eyes?
Never the Morning Star so radiant
Followed his course o’er eastern skies.
What is this light so fair, so tender
Breaking upon our wond’ring eyes?

3. Shepherds, O haste with eager footsteps
Seek the Saviour, born today.
Low at His feet we lay our treasure,
Heart’s adoration, love for aye.
Shepherds, O haste with eager footsteps
Seek the Saviour, born today.



Version Two:

1. Shepherds what is this lovely fragrance,
Filling the air this wondrous night?
Gentler than all the flow’rs of springtime,
Wafting from heav’n in sweet delight.
Shepherds what is this lovely fragrance,
Filling the air this wondrous night?

2. What is this light, so clear so brilliant,
Filling the sky before our eyes?
Brighter than day a star is shining,
Ne’er have we seen such radiant skies!
What is this light, so clear so brilliant,
Filling the sky before our eyes?

3. In Bethlehem in lowly manger,
Lies our Redeemer, Lord, and King.
Come, let us hasten to adore Him,
And there to Him, our praises sing!
In Bethlehem in lowly manger,
Lies our Redeemer, Lord and King.



Version Three:

1.Whence is the goodly fragrance flowing,
Stealing our senses all away,
Never the like did come a-blowing,
Shepherds, in flow’ry fields of May,
Whence is that goodly fragrance flowing,
Stealing our senses all away.

2. What is that light so brilliant, breaking
Here in the night across our eyes.
Never so bright, the day-star waking,
Started to climb the morning skies!
What is that light so brilliant, breaking,
Here in the night across our eyes.

3. Bethlehem! there in manger lying,
Find your Redeemer haste away,
Run ye with eager footsteps vying!
Worship the Saviour born today.
Bethlehem! there in manger lying,
Find your Redeemer haste away.