Ye watchers and ye holy ones (Lasst uns erfreuen)

1 Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones,
raise the glad strain,
Alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers,
virtues, archangels, angels' choirs,
Refrain:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! alleluia!

2 O higher than the cherubim,
more glorious than the seraphim,
lead their praises,
Alleluia!
Thou bearer of the eternal Word,
most gracious, magnify the Lord, [Refrain]

3 Respond, ye souls in endless rest,
ye patriarchs and prophets blest,
Alleluia,
alleluia!
Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong,
all saints triumphant raise the song, [Refrain]

4 O friends, in gladness let us sing,
supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia,
alleluia!
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, Three in One, [Refrain]

Words: J. A. L. Riley
Music: Lasst uns erfreuen, 17th German, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams; improvisations by Robert McCormick