Embracing an effortless eloquence and cocoa butter smooth persona, the music of Brian McKnight has defined the true meaning of an American soul-man since 1991. Like his spiritual Motown godfathers, this upstate New York native has a velvety voice and silky style that captures the vibe of vintage soul without being old fashion. On his latest disc Ten, that blend can be clearly heard.
While Brian’s aspirations might have seemed like a lofty ambition, the longevity of his career is a testament to the purity of his vision. With the release of Ten, McKnight’s first disc for his new label Warner Bros Records, the Grammy-nominated singer could not be more pleased with the outcome. Without a doubt, the landscape of soul music has gotten younger, but that fact did not hinder McKnight’s creative process.
After 16 million albums sold since his self-titled debut, it would have been too easy for McKnight to simply follow the R&B template of rote romanticism. But on Ten, the artist in him felt the need to be more revealing. Though McKnight has been friends with producers Tim & Bob for over ten years, this is the trio’s first collaboration.
Though Brian has never been the kind of singer/songwriter that one would call political that didn’t stop him from penning “Red, White & Blue,” a heart wrenching ode for the men and women currently at war, teaming up with country star Rascal Flatts.
Currently working on a variety of projects including a talk show and soundtracks for two upcoming Tyler Perry projects, the veteran soul singer could not be happier with the outcome of Ten. For fans of real music, Ten is the perfect addition to the soul cannon.
Bethlehem Tonight
Brian McKnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The prophecy had been foretold
The One who had come to save our lives
Was born in the manger so low
And as sure as the stars are in the sky
Valleys low and mountains high
The newborn King was born
In Bethlehem tonight
Silent night, holy night
Bethlehem tonight
Silent night, holy night
Three kings brought gifts from far away
A boy came to play upon his drum
Skeptics saw truth and had nothing to say
The wonderful Savior had come
And as sure as the stars are in the sky
Valleys low and mountains high
The newborn King was born
In Bethlehem tonight
Silent night, holy night
Bethlehem tonight
Silent night, holy night
Behold our Redeemer from sin
There was no room in the inn
But still He left His throne on high
Shed His blood
To saved our lives, our lives
In Bethlehem tonight
Silent night, holy night
Silent night, holy night
The lyrics to Brian McKnight's "Bethlehem Tonight" describe the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. The Virgin Mary is described as being pregnant and ready to give birth. This fulfillment of prophecy is significant because it had been foretold that the person who would save humanity from their sins would be born in Bethlehem. The newborn King is born in a manger despite the fact that he is the Savior of the world. The stars and the mountains serve as a reminder of the grandeur of this event, and that this is an important moment in the history of the world.
The arrival of the three kings is also described in the song. These three regal figures have traveled from far away to present their offerings to the newborn Christ. They come bearing gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh, which symbolize Jesus' kingship, God's holiness, and his eventual death and burial, respectively. The final verse of the song highlights Jesus' sacrifice for humanity. He leaves his high throne in heaven in order to shed his blood and save human beings from their sins. The song reminds listeners that the miracle of Jesus' birth is not only a moment of great joy, but also of immense significance for the redemption of humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Virgin Mary was laden with child
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was pregnant with the son of God
The prophecy had been foretold
It was predicted that a savior would come and save humanity
The One who had come to save our lives
Jesus was sent to Earth to save humanity from their sins
Was born in the manger so low
Jesus was born in a humble stable because there was no room at the inn
And as sure as the stars are in the sky
It is certain and true that Jesus was born in Bethlehem
Valleys low and mountains high
No matter the terrain, the message of Jesus' birth would reach everyone
The newborn King was born
Jesus, the king of the world, was born
Silent night, holy night
The night of Jesus' birth was peaceful and holy
Three kings brought gifts from far away
The wise men brought gifts to honor and worship Jesus
A boy came to play upon his drum
A young boy played his drum to celebrate Jesus' birth
Skeptics saw truth and had nothing to say
Those who doubted the truth of Jesus' birth were silenced by the events that followed
The wonderful Savior had come
Jesus, the wonderful and mighty savior, had arrived
Behold our Redeemer from sin
Jesus is the one who can redeem us from our sins
There was no room in the inn
The inn was full and Mary and Joseph had to stay in a stable
But still He left His throne on high
Jesus, the king of the world, left his heavenly throne to come to Earth
Shed His blood
Jesus would later shed his blood on the cross to save humanity from their sins
To saved our lives, our lives
Jesus' sacrifice on the cross saved us from eternal damnation
Silent night, holy night
The night of Jesus' birth was peaceful and holy
Silent night, holy night
The night of Jesus' birth was peaceful and holy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN KELLY MCKNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind