Angels We Have Heard On High
Brian McKnight [feat. Josh Groban] Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ whose birth the angels sing
Come adore on bended knee

Christ the Lord, the newborn King

Gloria (let us sing)
In excelsis Deo (in excelsis Deo)
Gloria in excelsis Deo

Gloria (Angels, we have heard on high, sweetly singing)
In excelsis Deo




Gloria in excelsis Deo-oria in excelsis Deo
In Excelsis Deo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Brian McKnight's rendition of "Angels We Have Heard on High" speak of the presence of heavenly beings singing praises on the night of Jesus Christ's birth. The first verse of the song proclaims the joyous news of the angels singing sweetly over the plains and how the mountains echo their strains. This imagery paints a picture of an ethereal experience, where the heavens and the earth join in harmony to celebrate the birth of the Savior. The chorus, "Gloria in excelsis Deo," is a Latin phrase translated to "Glory to God in the highest," which further emphasizes the divine significance of the occasion.


The second verse of the song invites listeners to come to Bethlehem and witness the birth of Christ, which the angels are singing about. The lyric "Come adore on bended knee" conveys a sense of humility and reverence, as one is called to worship before the newborn King. The chorus repeats, urging listeners to sing praises to God in the highest, in a manner befitting the magnitude of the event.


Line by Line Meaning

Angels we have heard on high
We have heard angels singing joyfully over the plains


Sweetly singing o'er the plains
They sing with a sweet and lovely melody over the plains


And the mountains in reply
The mountains echo back their joyous melody


Echoing their joyous strains.
The mountains echo the angels' joyful song


Gloria in excelsis Deo
This is a phrase sung by the angels which means 'Glory to God in the highest'


Come to Bethlehem and see
Come to Bethlehem and witness the birth of Christ


Christ whose birth the angels sing
The angels are singing about the birth of Christ


Come adore on bended knee
Come and worship him on your knees


Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Christ is the newborn king who is Lord


Gloria (let us sing)
Let us sing 'Glory to God in the highest'


In excelsis Deo (in excelsis Deo)
This phrase 'Glory to God in the highest' is in Latin


Gloria in excelsis Deo
Again, this is a phrase sung by the angels which means 'Glory to God in the highest'


Gloria (Angels, we have heard on high, sweetly singing)
The angels are singing 'Glory to God in the highest' with a sweet and lovely melody


In excelsis Deo
Again, this phrase 'Glory to God in the highest' is in Latin


Gloria in excelsis Deo-oria in excelsis Deo
Once again, this is a phrase sung by the angels which means 'Glory to God in the highest'


In Excelsis Deo
The phrase 'Glory to God in the highest' repeated in Latin




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Traditional

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@EddieJoWilliams

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly, sweetly through the night
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brief delight
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing,
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Yeah
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Angels we have heard
Angels we have heard on high
Angels we have heard, oh
Angels we have heard on high
Angels we have heard on high
Angels we have heard on high
In excelsis Deo



All comments from YouTube:

@andrewnielson9156

This song is so good that I have the guts to listen to it in June (6 months after Christmas)

@GabrielLe868

Always the best version ever. Anyone agreed with this?

@utefan4life8469

Oh for sure!

@friendlywarrior9033

Heck yes

@manuelorozco7760

I would never want to hear any version but this one. I just love Josh and Brian’s vocal chemistry!

@stevewilson9792

My favorite is Tabernacle choir at Temple square. With orchestra.
Hands down. This rendition lacks power. Both singers seemed to strain, at times, shouting their lryics.

@beckettroland4285

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@kianfabian7867

@Beckett Roland Yea, been using kaldroStream for months myself =)

@SaikatChatterjee22

There is one by Andrea Bocelli - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5iaV989_5M

@angelettejones8882

@@stevewilson9792 Neither one of them was even at the top of their range in this song. So no shouting involved.

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