Knight started to record solo material due to legal issues that forced her and The Pips to record separately. Her solo debut "Miss Gladys Knight" was released in 1978 followed by "Gladys Knight" on Colombia Records. Knight recorded the title track for the James Bond movie "Licence To Kill." It became a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at #6. Knight's third solo album, "Good Woman" was released in 1991 on MCA Records (now Geffen Records). The album quickly climbed the charts to #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album features the lead single, "Men" (#2 R&B). Her fourth album, "Just For You" followed in 1995. The album went Gold. Knight most recent album is her critically acclaimed ninth studio album, "Before Me", released in 2006.
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Gladys Knight Lyrics
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That glorious song of old
From Angels playing near the earth
To touch their harps of gold
Peace on the earth could will two men
From Heaven's all-gracious King
The world in solemn stillness lay
And I hear them singing
Sing, I do hear them singing
The first Noel the Angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay, they keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
The lyrics to Gladys Knight's song "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" describe the peaceful and heavenly atmosphere that surrounded the birth of Jesus Christ. The song begins by emphasizing the moment when a beautiful song, which originated from the angels themselves, echoed through the stillness of the midnight hour. The angels played their harps of gold, creating a joyous and uplifting melody that could be heard near the earth.
The song then explores the message brought by the angels, proclaiming peace on earth as a divine gift from the gracious King of Heaven. This peace has the power to unite people and bring about harmony, setting the world in solemn stillness to listen to the angels sing. The emphasis is not only on the physical act of hearing the angelic chorus but also on truly comprehending and internalizing the significance of the message.
Gladys Knight's rendition of this traditional Christmas carol beautifully captures the serenity and wonder of that holy night. The lyrics invite listeners to imagine being present at the scene of the shepherds in fields, encountering the glory of the angels and receiving their proclamation of the birth of Jesus, known as the first Noel. It was a cold winter's night, but the depth of the moment and the profound spiritual impact it had on those shepherds transcended the physical discomfort of the weather.
Overall, "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" serves as a reminder of the divine peace and heavenly blessings that were brought to the world through the birth of Jesus Christ. It highlights the awe-inspiring power of music and the possibility of hearing heavenly harmonies even in the darkest and quietest hours.
Line by Line Meaning
It came upon the midnight clear
The peaceful and glorious song appeared during the calmness of midnight
That glorious song of old
The beautiful song that has been sung for generations
From Angels playing near the earth
Angels, positioned close to the earth, were creating the music
To touch their harps of gold
They played their harps made of precious gold
Peace on the earth could will two men
The heavenly King's will brought peace upon the earth for all people
From Heaven's all-gracious King
The merciful King of Heaven
The world in solemn stillness lay
The entire world was in a quiet and peaceful state
To hear the Angels sing
To listen to the melodic voices of the Angels
And I hear them singing
I am able to hear them singing
Sing, I do hear them singing
Indeed, I hear them singing joyously
The first Noel the Angel did say
The Angel announced the first Noel (Christmas carol)
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
The Angel delivered the news to humble shepherds who rested in the fields
In fields where they lay, they keeping their sheep
In the fields where the shepherds had settled, they were watching over their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
During a bitterly cold and profound winter night
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Edmund Hamilton Sears, Richard Storrs Willis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ginger Williams
on Mr. Love
I'm 84 years old and I've never heard this beautiful message. My daughter introduced it to me and I'm gonna keep listening. I love it