By Gavin Reid

7 to 11 yrs - KS2 - optional harmony, counterpoint and solo opportunities (3m11s)

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Download includes  -  Piano-vocal score, lyric sheet, mp3 demo & backing tracks

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Theme  -  Christmas, Nativity - shepherds scene

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Content  -  On a dark night, shepherds shake with fright when angels appear to them, on the hillside outside Bethlehem. For tonight of all nights, the shepherds have to trust that their sheep will be alright on the hills while they go and find the special baby that has been born.  A good song for KS2 to include in nativity presentations or carol concerts, and the simple harmony and counterpoint parts make this song a valuable addition to school choir repertoire.

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Lyrics Sample

Well it was dark    (So dark!)

On the hills            (On the hills!)

Well it was oh so dark on the hills

’Round the sleepy little town     (The sleepy little town)

The sleepy little town of Bethlehem.

But there was no way to sleep

For shepherds watching their sheep,

They were roamin’

All over the hillside!  All over the hills!

Then an angel came down

And there was light all around – on the hills!

Oh the light was so bright

The shepherds got such a fright,

They were shakin’.  Ooh!

All over the hillside!  All over the hills!

And the sheep in a daze

Well they forgot how to graze – on the hills!

Now the angel said “Hey!

You shepherds don’t be afraid,

You gotta get goin’!

Down over the hillside!  Down over the hills!

Now behold a new dawn:

A special baby is born – Son of God!

So you gotta go down, down, down to Bethlehem.

Then you gotta go up, up, up to where he’s laid.

And you gotta bow down, down, down

Before the child who wears a crown:

That’s baby Jesus, who’s born this very day!”

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'All Over The Hills' features in the cantata 'Bells Ring Out'