Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This American nativity song goes back to 1751! Known as “Occom’s Carol” and “O Sight of Anguish,” this song emphasizes the vulnerability of a newly-born Jesus. This song portrays him weeping and innocent, hosted kindly by barn animals but denied aid by cruel humanity. Though I’m a pagan, this song has always struck me for its poetry and its call for mercy towards children. Taken from a wider angle, I see here an illustration of each child as divine, and a command towards acting towards each of us with love.
Look to the lynks on my creator page to support an American family.
The lyrics are by Samson Occom (1723-1792), a member of the Mohegan Nation, who was a Presbyterian minister for much of his life. Musical arrangement by William Knapp.
O sight of Anguish, view it near
What weeping innocence is here
A manger for his bed.
The brutes yield refuge to his woe;
Man, the worst brute, no pity shows,
Nor give him friendly aid
Nor gives him friendly aid
Say, did that infant bathed in tears
Call into form the rolling spheres?
Did seraphs wait his nod?
Helpless he calls, but man delays,
The moral chaos disobeys
This offspring of a God
This offspring of a God
Redemption! ‘Tis a boundless theme!
Thou boundless mind our hearts inflame
With ardor from above.
Words are but faint, let joy express,
Vain is mere joy, let actions bless
This prodigy of love
This offspring of a God
#carol #bard #palestine #freepalestine #folksong #oldchristmassong #Americanhistory #Americanmusichistory #colonialchristmas #Americancolonialhistory #christmascarol
This American nativity song goes back to 1751! Known as “Occom’s Carol” and “O Sight of Anguish,” this song emphasizes the vulnerability of a newly-born Jesus. This song portrays him weeping and innocent, hosted kindly by barn animals but denied aid by cruel humanity. Though I’m a pagan, this song has always struck me for its poetry and its call for mercy towards children. Taken from a wider angle, I see here an illustration of each child as divine, and a command towards acting towards each of us with love.
Look to the lynks on my creator page to support an American family.
The lyrics are by Samson Occom (1723-1792), a member of the Mohegan Nation, who was a Presbyterian minister for much of his life. Musical arrangement by William Knapp.
O sight of Anguish, view it near
What weeping innocence is here
A manger for his bed.
The brutes yield refuge to his woe;
Man, the worst brute, no pity shows,
Nor give him friendly aid
Nor gives him friendly aid
Say, did that infant bathed in tears
Call into form the rolling spheres?
Did seraphs wait his nod?
Helpless he calls, but man delays,
The moral chaos disobeys
This offspring of a God
This offspring of a God
Redemption! ‘Tis a boundless theme!
Thou boundless mind our hearts inflame
With ardor from above.
Words are but faint, let joy express,
Vain is mere joy, let actions bless
This prodigy of love
This offspring of a God
#carol #bard #palestine #freepalestine #folksong #oldchristmassong #Americanhistory #Americanmusichistory #colonialchristmas #Americancolonialhistory #christmascarol
