lo how a rose e er blooming from tender stem hath sprung of jesse s lineage coming as men of old have sung it came a flower bright amid the cold of winter when half spent was the night isaiah twas foretold it the rose i have in mind with mary we behold it the virgin mother kind to show god s love aright she bore to men a savior when half spent was the night this flower whose fragrance tender with sweetness fills the air dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere true man yet very god from sin and death he saves us and lightens every load o savior child of mary who felt our human woe o savior king of glory who dost our weakness know bring us at length we pray to the bright courts of heaven and to the endless day 