Angels We Have Heard on High

"Angels We Have Heard on High" is a Christmas carol with the lyrics written by James Chadwick (bishop), to the music from a French song called 'Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes'. The music is the same as the original song, though Chadwick's lyrics albeit unique and original are clearly derived and inspired, and in parts loosely translated from the original song. The song commemorates the story of the birth of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel of Luke, in which shepherds outside Bethlehem encounter a multitude of angels singing and praising the newborn child.

The words of the song are based on a traditional French carol known as Les Anges dans nos campagnes (literally, "The Angels in our countryside") composed by an unknown author in Languedoc, France. That song has received many adjustments or alignments including its most common English version that was written in 1862 by James Chadwick, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, northeast England. The carol quickly became popular in the West Country, where it was described as 'Cornish' by R.R. Chope, and featured in Pickard-Cambridge's Collection of Dorset Carols.. Chadwick's lyrics differ from the original French version, including a new song title, and are deemed an original work attributable solely to him, though the theme remains the same, and some lines are roughly translated.

The lyrics of Angels We Have Heard on High were written to fit with the music of Les Anges dans nos campagnes . Chadwick's lyrics are clearly inspired but are not a direct translation of the song though there are similarities. It is considered a derivative work. Chadwick's lyrics are considered original under copyright laws and entirely his, even though they are recognized as a 'derivative work'. They are completely unique in sections and also loosely translated in sections from the original french song. Both sets of lyrics are unique and original. Chadwick's version is the much more popular and commonplace

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