O Little Town of Bethlehem
Brother & Sister's Holy Gospel Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to-night.
For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to thee,
Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching
And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.
O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
The song "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Brother & Sister's Holy Gospel Choir is a beautiful and reflective hymn that paints a vivid picture of the small town during the time of Jesus' birth. The lyrics depict Bethlehem as a peaceful and quiet place, with silent streets and sleeping mortals. The stillness and serenity are contrasted with the everlasting Light that shines in the darkness, symbolizing the hope and fears of all generations that are met in Bethlehem on this special night.
The song then shifts its focus to Mary, the mother of Christ, and the angels who watch over the scene with wonder and love. The birth of Jesus is proclaimed by the morning stars, and praises are sung to God the King, bringing peace to all mankind. The lyrics emphasize the silent and mysterious nature of Christ's arrival, with God imparting His blessings to humanity in a subtle and unnoticed manner. Only the meek souls, willing to receive Him, can truly experience the presence of Christ in their hearts.
The third verse highlights the significance of Bethlehem as a place where people, both pure and happy children and those suffering in misery, reach out to the blessed Child and seek His comfort and salvation. Charity stands as a guardian, watching over the town, and faith opens the door wide for Jesus to enter. As the dark night awakens, the glory of Christmas breaks through, signifying the arrival of the Savior once again.
In the final verse, the hymn becomes a prayer to the "holy Child of Bethlehem" to descend upon the listeners and remove their sins. The request is for Jesus to be born within their hearts, allowing His presence and grace to transform their lives. The singers express their joy in hearing the angels proclaiming the glad tidings of Christmas and invite the Lord to come and abide with them as Emmanuel, signifying God's presence among His people.
Overall, "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a gentle and contemplative song that invites listeners to reflect on the significance of Jesus' birth and the hope and joy it brings to humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
O little town of Bethlehem,
Oh, small town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
How peaceful we see you lying!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
Above your deep and serene sleep
The silent stars go by;
The quiet stars pass by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
However, in your dark streets shines
The everlasting Light;
The eternal Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
The aspirations and anxieties of all time
Are met in thee to-night.
Are brought together in you tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary,
Because Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
And gathered everyone above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
While people sleep, the angels guard
Their watch of wondering love.
Their watch of awe-inspiring love.
O morning stars, together
Oh, morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
Announce the sacred birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And sing praises to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
And peace to all people on earth.
How silently, how silently,
How quietly, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
The marvelous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
Thus, God gives to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
The blessings of his heavenly realm.
No ear may hear his coming,
No ear can hear his arrival,
But in this world of sin,
But in this sinful world,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
Where humble souls will still receive him
The dear Christ enters in.
The beloved Christ enters.
Where children pure and happy
Where innocent and joyful children
Pray to the blessed Child,
Offer prayers to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to thee,
Where suffering cries out to you,
Son of the mother mild;
Son of the gentle mother;
Where charity stands watching
Where love stands watchful
And faith holds wide the door,
And faith keeps the door open,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
The dark night awakens, the glory emerges,
And Christmas comes once more.
And Christmas arrives once again.
O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Oh, sacred Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Come down to us, we ask;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Expel our sin and come inside,
Be born in us to-day.
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
We hear the angels of Christmas
The great glad tidings tell;
Announcing the joyful news;
O come to us, abide with us,
Oh, come to us, stay with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
Our Lord Emmanuel!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL, WILLIE LOGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind