O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Aaron Neville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
The lyrics of Aaron Neville's "O Little Town of Bethlehem" pay tribute to the quiet and peaceful town where Jesus Christ was born. The song describes the serenity and stillness of Bethlehem as the silent stars overlook it. The lyrics elicit a sense of hope and fear, as they evoke the idea that all the inhabitants of the town live in anticipation of the arrival of the messiah. The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of Christ's birth and the idea that it brings peace to mankind.
Aaron Neville uses several metaphors throughout the song to express the significance of Bethlehem. The first metaphor compares the silence of the town to a deep and dreamless sleep. The second compares the light of Christ to a beacon of hope shining in the dark streets of Bethlehem. The third metaphor compares the hopes and fears of all the people that believed in the messiah to a meeting point, a culmination of all their anticipation and waiting.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Despite the tranquility of Bethlehem, it’s quiet and dull, as if nothing much is happening.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
While the town rests, the stars shine overhead, quietly performing their universal movements as a sign of peace.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
Despite the darkness, a bright, undying light appears in the streets, a symbol of hope that is inexhaustible.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Bethlehem is a place where all people’s longings and apprehensions, throughout history, meet when Jesus is born; a profound moment of unity, hope, and love.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
Jesus is born of Mary, and gathers all people to him and to God, creating the possibility of redemption.
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
As people slumber, angels watch over them with love and astonishment at the miracle that is unfolding.
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
The stars in the morning sky declare to the world the sacredness of Christ’s birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.
All beings sing in worship of God, the king of all, and pray for peace on earth, symbolizing the transformational power of Christ’s birth.
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Bethlehem remains a sleepy town, but it is ever more meaningful than before, as it has become the birthplace of the Savior of the world.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
The calm of Bethlehem continues, with only the silent stars overhead as a witness to the miracle that has taken place.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The bright, unquenchable light still shines in Bethlehem, reminding people of the transformative event and signaling the start of a brighter future for all.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, has become the place where all the hopes and fears of humanity are brought together in a moment of profound significance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEROY ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Neville charted again, in 1989, when he collaborated with Linda Ronstadt on three consecutive duets: Don't Know Much Read Full BioAaron Neville (born January 24, 1941, New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American soul and R&B singer and musician. He made his debut in 1966 with the hit single Tell It Like It Is, a Number One hit on the Billboard R&B charts. From 1977 he performed as part of The Neville Brothers with his siblings, Art Neville, Charles Neville, Cyril Neville & Ivan Neville.
Neville charted again, in 1989, when he collaborated with Linda Ronstadt on three consecutive duets: Don't Know Much, All My Life, and When Something Is Wrong with My Baby, the first two reached Number One on the Adult Contemporary charts. Neville has released more than 20 singles, including three Number Ones on the Adult Contemporary format, and a fourth on the R&B format.
His other hits have included Everybody Plays the Fool, his successful 1991 cover of the 1972 Main Ingredient song, that reached #8 on the Hot 100; Don't Take Away My Heaven, Hercules and Can't Stop My Heart From Loving You (The Rain Song). Neville's biggest solo successes have been on the Adult Contemporary chart, where "Don't Know Much," "All My Life," and "Everybody Plays the Fool" all reached Number One.
Aaron signed to SonyBMG's new Burgundy Records label in late 2005 and recorded an album of songs by Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke and others for Bring It On Home...The Soul Classics, released on September 19, 2006. The album, produced by Stewart Levine, features collaborations between Neville and Chaka Khan, Mavis Staples, Chris Botti, David Sanborn, Art Neville, and others. The album's first single was a remake of The Impressions' 1963 classic It's All Right.
On October 27, 2006, Neville made a guest appearance on an episode of the soap opera The Young and the Restless. He sang Stand By Me" and Ain't No Sunshine, from his album, Bring It on Home … The Soul Classics. In 2008 he released Gold, which includes a double album of his hits.
http://www.aaronneville.com