Bette Midler (December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, and comedia… Read Full Bio ↴Bette Midler (December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known to her fans and especially in gay culture, as The Divine Miss M. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Jewish parents from New Jersey, and raised there. Midler relocated to New York City to pursue acting on stage, and in 1970 she began singing at the Continental Baths, a gay bathhouse in the city, where she became close to her piano accompanist, Barry Manilow, who produced her first major album, The Divine Miss M in 1973. She is named after the actress Bette Davis although Davis pronounced her name in two syllables, and Midler uses one.

During her career, she has won four Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards. She performed a new concert show, The Showgirl Must Go On, live five nights a week at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2011 (together with Cher and Elton John).

O Come
Bette Midler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'nt give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bette Midler's "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" are both simple yet profound, evoking a sense of longing and hope for the coming of Jesus Christ. The song is a traditional Christian hymn that dates back to at least the 8th century, and has been translated into many languages over the centuries.

The first verse begins with a plea to God to come and save his people Israel who are being held captive and are in exile. The Israelites had been in captivity in Babylon and were longing for the coming of the Messiah who would set them free. The verse ends by expressing joy and excitement for the coming of Emmanuel, which means "God with us."

The second verse continues the theme of captivity and tyranny, but this time the focus is on Satan's hold over humanity. It is a plea for God to save his people from the clutches of death and grant them victory over the grave. The verse ends with another joyful proclamation of Emmanuel's coming.

The third verse asks for the coming of the Day-Spring, which is a metaphor for the dawn of a new age, full of light and hope. It is a desire for the darkness and gloom of the world to be lifted, as well as the fear and despair that come with it. Again, the verse ends with a joyful cry for Emmanuel's coming.

The fourth verse asks specifically for the Key of David to come, which is a reference to the Messiah who was prophesied to come from the lineage of King David. The key is a symbol for the one who holds the power to open the gates of heaven, and the verse ends with a longing for the way to be made safe and the path to misery to be closed.

The final verse is a plea to the Lord of Might, who is the one who gave the Law to the Israelites at Sinai. This verse highlights the power and majesty of God, who is able to deliver his people from captivity and tyranny. The verse ends with another joyful proclamation of Emmanuel's coming.

Overall, "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is a powerful hymn that expresses the longing and hope of Christians for the coming of the Messiah, who will bring salvation and freedom to his people.

Line by Line Meaning

O come, O come, Emmanuel
Oh please come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel
Save the imprisoned people of Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here
People who are sad and lonely because they are forced to live away from their homeland

Until the Son of God appear
Until the Savior arrives

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Be happy and excited that Emmanuel is coming

Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Emmanuel will come to save Israel

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Please come, descendant of Jesse and set your people free

Thine own from Satan's tyranny
Save your people from the harsh rule of Satan

From depths of Hell Thy people save
Bring your people who are suffering out of Hell

And give them victory o'er the grave
Help your people overcome death

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Come and bring happiness to us as you shine like the sun