Born in Hope Valley, Rhode Island, with his parents Mr. & Mrs. William Gilman Jr., Gilman first received notice as a performer at age seven, attracting the attention of a local vocal coach, Angela Bacari, who later became his manager. Eventually he met with Ray Benson (of Asleep at the Wheel) who helped him record demos, including "Roly Poly". Two months later he was signed by Sony Music Nashville.
His 2000 debut album, One Voice, had a very widely-played single that crossed over well into top 40 airplay. The album reached multi-platinum status, and earned a Grammy nomination. Generally touted as a child prodigy, Gilman appeared on various talk shows. Classic Christmas (which was certified gold) was released later in the year.
He released Dare to Dream (certified gold) on Sony BMG Music Entertainment/Epic Records in 2001, and in 2003 released Music Through Heartsongs, an album inspired by the poetry of Mattie Stepanek. Later in 2003, he performed at a benefit for The Station nightclub fire. In May 2005, he released Everything and More, his first album since his voice changed.
Billy's latest album, self-titled, was released in September 2006 on the Image Entertainment label. The first single off the upcoming album, Southern Star, heralds a return to his country music roots. Billy is scheduled to begin working on his next album with Eddie Galan and Andrew Lane of Trilogy Productions.
Angels We Have Heard On High
Billy Gilman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweetly singing ore the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord the newborn King
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
See him in a manger laid
Whom the choirs of angels praise
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
The song "Angels We Have Heard On High" is a traditional Christmas carol that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ as announced by the angels. The lyrics paint a picture of the night of Christ's birth, with angels singing from above and the sound of their joyful melody echoing through the plains and mountains. The first verse carries a message of hope and peace, with the angels singing sweetly and expressing their joy through their songs. The second verse invites the listener to come to Bethlehem and witness the birth of Christ, who is referred to as the "newborn King."
The third verse describes the scene of Christ's birth - in a manger, with the choirs of angels praising him. Mary and Joseph are called upon to "lend their aid" in welcoming the child, and the hearts of all who hear the beautiful news of Christ's arrival are lifted with love and adoration. The refrain, "Gloria in excelsis Deo," is repeated throughout the song, meaning "Glory to God in the highest," emphasizing the divine nature of Christ's birth and the heavenly celebration that took place that night.
Line by Line Meaning
Angels we have on heard high
We are overwhelmed by the presence of angels who are singing loudly and can be heard from far away.
Sweetly singing ore the plains
They are singing in such a beautiful and melodious manner that it feels like music to the ears and the sound is reverberating all through the plains.
And the mountains in reply
The sound of angels' singing is so powerful that it is being echoed in the mountains as well.
Echoing their joyous strains
The angels' songs are full of joy and happiness which is being reflected in the echoes of their singing.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
The song praises God and the lyrics 'Gloria in excelsis Deo' means 'Glory to God in the highest'.
Come to Bethlehem and see
We are being invited to come to Bethlehem to see the place where the savior of the world was born.
Christ whose birth the angels sing
The angels are singing because they are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ who is their savior too.
Come adore on bended knee
We are being asked to adore the newborn king Jesus Christ on our bent knees.
Christ the Lord the newborn King
Jesus Christ is not only a newborn king, but also the Lord who has come to save us from all our sins.
See him in a manger laid
The newborn Jesus Christ can be seen lying in a manger - a feeding trough for animals.
Whom the choirs of angels praise
The angels are rejoicing and praising Jesus Christ because they know who He is and what He has come to do.
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
The parents of Jesus Christ, Mary and Joseph, are being asked to help take care of the baby.
While our hearts in love we raise
As we are witnessing the birth of Jesus Christ, our hearts are filled with love and we raise our voices in praise and worship.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
The song of the angels continues to express the glory of God and the praise for Him.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
The song concludes with the repetition of the phrase 'Gloria in excelsis Deo' which means 'Glory to God in the highest' as a final expression of worship and praise to God.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind