Between the release of her debut album My Paper Heart and its follow-up Hundred More Years, Battistelli married Christian band percussionist Matthew Goodwin and gave birth to her first child, Matthew Elijah. According to the Hundred More Years songfacts Battistelli chose to title her sophomore record after the track "Hundred More Years" because the tune's subject matter of a couple falling in love and having their first child mimiced her own life. Hundred More Years was released on March 1, 2011.
Francesca Battistelli is no stranger to the stage. Raised by parents immersed in the arts and Broadway, she developed a love of music, theatre, and performance at a young age. But instead of using these talents for applause and accolades, Francesca prefers to point people to something beyond herself --towards hope in Christ. Her soulful piano-pop sound resembles a blend of her music interests -- jazz, rock, gospel and R&B -- woven beautifully together with themes of trust and risk-taking. In a noisy world filled with sounds and images, we cry out for an authentic voice--one who is not afraid to speak truth and purpose to a generation. In singer/songwriter Francesca Battistelli, we have found that voice.
What Child Is This?
Francesca Battistelli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
In fields as they lay
In fields where they
Lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King of Israel
They looked, they looked up
And they saw a star
Shining in the east
Beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
So it continued both day and night
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King of Israel
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King, born is the King, born is the King of Israel
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King of Israel
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Born is the King, born is the King, born is the King of Israel
Of Israel, Israel, of Israel
Born is the King of Israel
Francesca Battistelli's version of "What Child is This?" is a beautiful rendition of the classic Christmas carol. The first verse of the song recalls the biblical story in Luke 2:8-14 when an angel appears to the shepherds in the field and announces the birth of Jesus. The shepherds were among the lowest social classes of Jewish society and the mention of "certain poor shepherds" in the song emphasizes the idea that Jesus was born for all people, regardless of social status.
The second verse of the song speaks of the star of Bethlehem, which according to the Bible, guided the three wise men to the birthplace of Jesus. The line "And to the earth it gave great light, so it continued both day and night" highlights the miraculous nature of the star and its symbolic significance. The chorus of the song repeats the refrain "Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël, born is the King of Israel," which reinforces the theme of Christ's birth and emphasizes the excitement surrounding his arrival.
Overall, Francesca Battistelli's version of "What Child is This?" beautifully captures the essence of the Christmas story, with its themes of hope, joy, and the universality of Christ's message.
Line by Line Meaning
The first Noël
The first Christmas celebration
The angel did say
Angels proclaimed this good news
Was to certain poor shepherds
The angels appeared to specific humble shepherds
In fields as they lay
While they were lying in the fields with their sheep
In fields where they
In those fields
Lay keeping their sheep
Watching over their flocks of sheep
On a cold winter's night
On a chilly nightly wintertime
That was so deep
When it was very dark and quiet
Noël, Noël, Noël, Noël
Christmas! Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!
Born is the King of Israel
The Savior of the world is born
They looked, they looked up
The shepherds gazed up
And they saw a star
And noticed a bright shining star
Shining in the east
Radiating its light from the east
Beyond them far
Farther than they could imagine
And to the earth it gave great light
And it illuminated the whole earth
So it continued both day and night
And it remained shining day and night
Born is the King, born is the King, born is the King of Israel
The Savior is born, the Savior is born, the Savior is born in Israel
Of Israel, Israel, of Israel
The birthplace of the promised Messiah
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: PUBLIC DOMAIN UNIDENTIFIED ., TIM LAUER, IAN ESKELIN, FRANCESCA BATTISTELLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Frosty Hannah
Her voice is so amazing, it's like a angel
Rhett Gedies
Her voice is like angelic glass in this song. Especially the "First Noel" prelude piece. Oh my gosh, it melts my brain in Holy Spirit ecstasy and sobers me everytime.
Mike Dunlap
What a beautiful voice !
Rachel Benjamin
Beautiful! Loved it. Thank you.
Patrick C
This is one of my favorite versions of the song.
J.J. Zapata
This is the song that lured me into Francesca Battistelli! She is Christmas!!!🎄🎄🎄
Trish L
So good!! :)
Elizabeth Shirley
So good
Chill Breeze
😅 Better than me.
This is beautiful too!
Legion of Warriors
I have the CD, my cousin gave it to me lol