Brian McKnight (born June 5, 1969 in Buffalo, New York) is an American sing… Read Full Bio ↴Brian McKnight (born June 5, 1969 in Buffalo, New York) is an American singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and one of the prominent singers of his years, specializing in pop and R&B. He is a multi-instrumentalist and plays the piano, guitar, and trumpet.

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.

Silent Night
Brian McKnight Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round your Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night

Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia

Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the classic Christmas song Silent Night are rich in imagery and symbolism that express the beauty and wonder of the birth of Jesus Christ. The first stanza sets the scene of the peaceful and bright night in which the infant Jesus sleeps in the arms of his virgin mother, who is depicted as tender and mild. The second stanza reveals that Jesus is not only the Holy Infant, but also the Son of God, who radiates the pure light of love from his holy face. The dawn of redeeming grace that marks his birth signifies the redemption and salvation that Jesus brings to humanity. The stanza ends with the recognition of Jesus as the Lord.

The third stanza highlights the reaction of the shepherds who witness the glorifying and divine spectacle of the heavenly hosts singing alleluia, as they announce the birth of Christ, the Saviour. This stanza is a tribute to the humble and lowly who were the first to receive the good news of salvation. The overall message of the song is the joyous celebration of Christmas and the awe-inspiring realization of the love of God for his people, as expressed through the incarnation of Jesus.

Line by Line Meaning

Silent night, holy night
It is a peaceful and sacred night.

All is calm, all is bright
There is a sense of peace and brightness all around.

Round your Virgin Mother and Child
The Virgin Mary is holding her precious baby boy close to her.

Holy Infant so tender and mild
The baby Jesus is pure and innocent.

Sleep in heavenly peace
May they rest peacefully under the watchful care of God.

Son of God, love's pure light
Jesus is the embodiment of God's love and represents all things pure.

Radiant beams from Thy holy face
There is a shining light from Jesus' holy face.

With the dawn of redeeming grace
When Jesus was born, he brought salvation and grace to the world.

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
The Lord is born as a human baby.

Shepherds quake at the sight
The shepherds feel a sense of awe and wonder at what they are witnessing.

Glories stream from heaven afar
There is an outpouring of divine beauty from the heavens.