Do You Hear What I Hear
Copeland Lyrics


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From the compilation "Maybe This Christmas Tree"
Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see
Way up in the sky little lamb

Do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear

A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king

Do you know what I know
In your palace oh mighty king
Do you know what I know
A child, a child, shivers in the cold

Let us bring him silver and gold
Let us bring him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say

Pray for peace people everywhere
Listen to what I say
A child, a child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light

He will bring us goodness and light
Do you hear what I hear
A child, a child, sleeping in the night




He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

Overall Meaning

Copeland’s version of “Do You Hear What I Hear” is a powerful and thought-provoking rendition of the Christmas classic. The verses of the song are a conveyance of the conversation that takes place between different characters; first between the night wind and the little lamb, then between the little lamb and the shepherd boy, and lastly between the shepherd boy and the mighty king. Each encounter results in a staggering realization and deep concern that is then shared with the next person.


The song starts with the night wind asking the little lamb if it can see what it sees up in the sky. The stunning star they both see has a tail as big as a kite. In the next verse, the little lamb asks the shepherd boy if he can hear the song he hears in the sky. It is a beautiful and melodic song, as big as the sea. The shepherd boy then goes to tell the mighty king what he has heard, wondering if he knows as well. The king knows nothing of it and becomes troubled by the news that a child shivers in the cold. They decide to bring him silver and gold, hoping it will bring him peace and comfort.


Line by Line Meaning

Said the night wind to the little lamb
The wind asks the lamb a question


Do you see what I see
The wind wonders if the lamb sees what it sees


Way up in the sky little lamb
The wind clarifies what it is seeing


A star, a star, dancing in the night
The wind is describing a star that is moving


With a tail as big as a kite
The wind gives more details about the star's appearance


Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
The lamb speaks to the shepherd boy


Do you hear what I hear
The lamb asks if the shepherd boy hears what it hears


Ringing through the sky shepherd boy
The lamb clarifies what it is hearing


A song, a song, high above the trees
The lamb describes the sound it is hearing


With a voice as big as the sea
The lamb emphasizes the magnitude of the sound


Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king
The shepherd boy speaks to the king


Do you know what I know
The shepherd boy asks the king a question


In your palace oh mighty king
The shepherd boy clarifies who he is speaking to


A child, a child, shivers in the cold
The shepherd boy tells the king about a child in need


Let us bring him silver and gold
The shepherd boy suggests a solution for helping the child


Said the king to the people everywhere
The king announces his message to everyone


Listen to what I say
The king requests attention from his listeners


Pray for peace people everywhere
The king encourages everyone to pray for peace


A child, a child, sleeping in the night
The king reminds everyone about the child in need


He will bring us goodness and light
The king speaks of the hope the child brings to the world


Do you hear what I hear
The king repeats his question to his listeners


A child, a child, sleeping in the night
The king again reminds his listeners about the child


He will bring us goodness and light
The king repeats his message of hope to his listeners




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FELIX BERNARD, RICHARD B. SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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