In the Bleak Midwinter
Choir of Westminster Cathedral Lyrics
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Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone,
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain,
Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air,
But his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshiped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
The song "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Choir of Westminster Cathedral describes the harsh and bitter winter scenery in which Jesus was born, in contrast to the joyous occasion it was. The first stanza paints a picture of a desolate scene where the frost wind is making a mournful sound, and the earth is hard as iron, just as it was during the birth of Jesus. The repetition of "snow on snow" highlights the overwhelming amount of snowfall that only adds to the coldness of the midwinter.
The second stanza shifts to the larger theme of how God's presence cannot be contained within heaven or on earth. The vision of heaven and earth fleeing away when God comes to reign is a powerful image of how the coming of Jesus changed the world forever. The third stanza speaks to the humble yet significant setting in which Jesus was born. The only attendees of the birth were Mary and Joseph, and within that simple stable, the Lord God Almighty was born. The reference to Mary kissing Jesus adds a tender and personal touch to the story.
The final stanza is a reflection on what one can give to Jesus, acknowledging the poverty of the singer. Even though the singer may not have material riches to offer, they can offer their heart as an act of devotion to Jesus. The song's overall message conveys that the birth of Jesus is not just a historical event but a profoundly meaningful and personal one.
Line by Line Meaning
In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan,
During the cold and desolate midwinter, the harsh wind moaned with a sad and mournful sound.
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone,
The ground was so cold and frozen it was as hard as metal, and even the water had turned to solid stone due to the extreme temperatures.
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
The snow had been falling heavily and continuously, covering the ground with multiple layers and creating a serene and peaceful landscape.
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
This was a long time ago, during a very cold December season.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain,
God is so great and powerful that he cannot be contained by heaven or earth, and they would be unable to support his presence.
Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
When God comes to rule over everything, both heaven and earth will tremble and flee in awe of his greatness.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
In the midst of the cold and desolate winter, a humble stable was enough to provide shelter for the important event that was about to occur.
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the divine and all-powerful Lord God, who was born in that humble stable during that bleak midwinter.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
It's possible that angels and archangels had assembled at that stable for this momentous occasion.
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air,
Even higher orders of angels, such as cherubim and seraphim, filled the air with their presence and adoration.
But his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Despite the possible presence of heavenly beings, only Mary, the mother of Jesus, experienced the true joy and fulfillment of being in the presence of her beloved son.
Worshiped the beloved with a kiss.
Mary expressed her love and devotion to her beloved son by kissing him and showing him affection.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
The singer wonders what they could possibly offer to Jesus, considering their own lack of wealth and resources.
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,
If they had been a shepherd, they would have been able to offer a lamb as a gift to Jesus.
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part,
If they had been one of the Wise Men who visited Jesus with gifts, they would have done their part in honoring him.
Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
Despite their own shortcomings and limitations, they can still give Jesus the gift of their heart and devotion, which is the most valuable gift of all.
Lyrics © DistroKid, BARRY WALSH MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: THOMAS STRONG, CHRISTINA ROSSETTI, BARRY WALSH, GRETCHEN PETERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elvers1
For those of us fortunate enough to have been born in the Cotswolds, and who know Cranham, you'll know the music for this beautiful carol was composed in this village by Gustav Holst in 1906... What we Gloucestrians also know, is he captured the incredible spiritual feeling of the bleak, cold , misty environment to be found there in the middle of a Cotswold winter, which is deeply felt in this wonderful Christmas song...We might also wonder if Holst in gazing up to the Cranham milky-way peppered skies was inspired to write his Planets Suite, his most celebrated work, constantly played all over the world...
Although Holst was born in Cheltenham, this version of the carol is appropriately played in Gloucester Cathedral, a mere 8 miles away, and really does justice to his skill as a composer in the way he, the choir and the congregation, fill this Gothic edifice with magnificent harmonious sound .
It should also be said that the English lyricist/poet Christina Rossetti , who died in 1894, did not collaborate with Holst on the work, but how beautifully her words were merged into the piece by him to give the impression they wrote it together...Thank you to both for giving us the opportunity to share this fusion of genius...
@democafe4864
Many thanks for telling the impressive and delightful information.
@twolefthanz
It's not often you can get a choir and a congregation in such great time together. The English are so good at choral music.
@stephenfarthing3819
I can agree.. As a Church Chorister myself. I can concur..
@NavigatingOrthoWorld
Have to mic choir and audience separately and match them up
@SuperRocky74
This is simply the best version of this song. I listen to it every Christmas
@gcook1493
Me too , wonderful.
@JehuHernandez10
Same.
@vegardjohansen9589
The worcester choir on Spotify has much better quality and in my opinion better balanced. But nevertheless what's right or wrong I don't care, this is beautiful aswell.
@SuperRocky74
@Vegard Johansen I'll look hem up