Ives began his career as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually launching his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, which popularized traditional folk songs. In 1942, he appeared in Irving Berlin's This Is the Army and became a major star of CBS Radio. In the 1960s, he successfully crossed over into country music, recording hits such as "A Little Bitty Tear" and "Funny Way of Laughin'". Ives was also a popular film actor through the late 1940s and '50s. His film roles included parts in So Dear to My Heart (1948) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), as well as the role of Rufus Hannassey in The Big Country (1958), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Ives is often associated with the Christmas season. He did voice-over work as Sam the Snowman, narrator of the classic 1964 Christmas television special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Ives also worked on the special's soundtrack, including the songs "A Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", both of which continue to chart annually on the Billboard holiday charts into the 2020s.
Silent Night
Burl Ives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The first verse of "Silent Night" paints a peaceful picture of the night of Jesus's birth. It speaks of a calm and bright atmosphere and of the Virgin Mary holding her tender baby. The lyrics call for the Infant to sleep in heavenly peace. The second verse speaks of Jesus as the Son of God, who brought redeeming light to the world. The radiant beams from his holy face signify the dawn of a new day and a new era in the history of humanity. The verse ends with a reminder that Jesus is Lord, and he was present at his own birth.
The final verse speaks of the shepherds watching over their flocks by night, and of the incredible sight they witnessed. The glory and splendor of the heavenly hosts were displayed, and they broke out into an alleluia. The lyrics then confirm that Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born on this night.
Line by Line Meaning
Silent night, holy night
The night is quiet and holy, a time of peace and reverence.
All is calm, all is bright
Everything is peaceful and serene, with a sense of warmth and light surrounding the scene.
Round your Virgin Mother and Child
Mary is holding her newborn baby Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes, as she watches over Him with love and tenderness.
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Jesus is a holy and pure baby, gentle and innocent in His manner.
Sleep in heavenly peace
As the baby sleeps, angels above are keeping watch over Him, bringing comfort and a sense of divine peace.
Son of God, love's pure light
Jesus is the Son of God, who represents the ultimate expression of pure, divine love.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
The radiance of God's love and glory shines from Jesus's face, illuminating the darkness that surrounds Him.
With the dawn of redeeming grace
As Jesus enters the world, His presence brings the promise of hope and salvation, restoring grace to all humanity.
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
At this moment, Jesus is being born into the world, marking the beginning of a new era in history in which He will become the Lord and Savior of all mankind.
Shepherds quake at the sight
Shepherds who were tending their flocks in the fields nearby tremble in awe as they behold a vision of heavenly glory, illuminated by the radiance of God's love.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Angels in heaven are singing songs of praise, showering the scene with brilliant rays of light that shimmer and dance across the sky.
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia
Angels from above sing a joyful hymn of praise to celebrate the birth of Jesus, heralding His arrival as a moment of great significance and celebration.
Christ, the Saviour is born
Jesus has come into the world as the promised Messiah, the one who will save the souls of all those who believe in Him.
Contributed by Madelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.