George Beverly Shea is considered by evangelist Billy Graham as his persona… Read Full Bio ↴George Beverly Shea is considered by evangelist Billy Graham as his personal favorite gospel singer. George sang into his 100s the old time hymns. He had appeared on most of the Billy Grahams crusade shows. He had sung the old time hymns for seventy years. He passed away on April 16, 2013.

O Little Town of Bethlehem
George Beverly Shea Lyrics

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Oh little town of Bethlehem, 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 tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.

And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.

Oh little town of Bethlehem, 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 tonight.

Overall Meaning

The first verse of George Beverly Shea's song O Little Town of Bethlehem describes the serene and peaceful atmosphere of the town lying still and quiet beneath the silent stars. However, amidst this stillness, there is a shining everlasting light that illuminates the dark streets of Bethlehem, representing the birth of Jesus Christ - the savior of all mankind. The lyrics further suggest that Bethlehem is a place where the hopes and fears of all years are met, which signifies the beginning of a new era.

The second verse describes the coming of Jesus as a unifying event that brought heavenly angels and mortals together, while the whole world lay asleep, unaware of the miracle that was taking place. The angels sang praises to God and rejoiced in the birth of Jesus Christ. The song emphasizes the significance of this occurrence, as it brought peace to all humankind and marked a turning point in history.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Despite the darkness that surrounds it, Bethlehem remains calm and quiet

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
The stars silently watch over Bethlehem in the peaceful night

Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
Although the streets are dark, they are illuminated by the eternal light of faith and hope

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Bethlehem is where people's greatest aspirations and anxieties come together, and tonight those hopes and fears are fulfilled

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
The birth of Jesus, born of Mary, brings together all of the angels above

While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
The angels watch over mortals in loving amazement while they sleep

Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth
The morning stars join in proclaiming the holy birth of Christ

And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.
As the angels sing praises to God, peace is bestowed upon mankind

Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Bethlehem remains a peaceful and quiet place

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Even when people are asleep, the stars continue to watch over Bethlehem in silence

Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
Despite the darkness that surrounds it, Bethlehem remains illuminated by the unchanging light of faith and hope

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
The aspirations and anxieties of countless generations culminate in Bethlehem tonight

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Lewis H Redner, Phillip Brooks

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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