Although translated into English by the catholic bishop of Newcastle, James Chadwick, in 1862 'Angels We Have On Heard High' started life out as a Christmas carol which was written by an unknown French composer. The song takes the air of the hymn 'Gloria' and celebrates the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem as in its final verse:

See him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Although the carol is most commonly sung by a choir and orchestra some contemporary artists have recorded their own versions including Christina Aguilera, Josh Groban, Sixpence None The Richer, Sufjan Stevens and the Cast of Glee.