Gladys Knight & The Pips were a soul and rnb family musical act from Atlant… Read Full Bio ↴Gladys Knight & The Pips were a soul and rnb family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, United States, active from 1953 to 1989. The group is best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's 'Soul' record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including the songs "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (1967) and "Midnight Train to Georgia" (1973). The longest-lived incarnation of the act featured Gladys Knight on lead vocals alongside backup singers 'The Pips', which included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight as well as their cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.

Gladys Knight, born on May 28, 1944, developed her singing style while singing with her family at Baptist church functions. Though the group first released recordings in 1958, their career really got started when Motown founder Berry Gordy witnessed them perform at Harlem’s Apollo Theater in 1966 and felt very impressed. With a career following spanning decade after decade, featuring many hits, the group has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

Silent Night
Gladys Knight & The Pips Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night,

Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Savior, is born!
Christ the Savior, is born!

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth...

Overall Meaning

The traditional Christmas carol, "Silent Night," is a tender and peaceful hymn that celebrates the birth of Jesus. The song starts with the image of a silent and holy night, where everything is calm and bright. The reference to "round yon virgin mother and child" suggests that the scene is of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her newborn son. The second verse refers to the shepherds in the fields who were first informed of Jesus' birth by an angel, which caused them to shake in fear and awe. The song then moves onto the celestial realm, where the angels sing hallelujah as glory streams from heaven.

The final verse of the song is devoted to Jesus himself, and the light and love that he represents for humanity. The song describes Jesus as the "son of God" and suggests that his holy face radiates a redeeming grace, bringing hope to the world. The closing line, "Jesus, Lord, at thy birth," reiterates the central theme of the song - the birth of Jesus as a moment of great rejoicing and wonder.

Overall, "Silent Night" is a hymn that's filled with gratitude, humility, and a deep sense of awe. It celebrates the miracle of Jesus' birth, and the hope that his message of love and compassion brings to the world.

Line by Line Meaning

Silent night, holy night,
A peaceful and sacred night

All is calm, all is bright
The night is peaceful, quiet and bright

Round yon virgin mother and child.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is holding her newborn son

Holy infant so tender and mild,
Jesus, the innocent child, is gentle and meek

Sleep in heavenly peace.
Rest in the blissful serenity of heaven

Shepherds quake at the sight,
The shepherds are trembling with fear and amazement

Glories stream from heaven afar,
The splendor of heaven is radiant and visible

Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Angels are singing praises to God

Christ the Savior, is born!
The Messiah, the Savior of the world, has come

Son of God, love's pure light
Jesus is the divine and radiant embodiment of love

Radiant beams from thy holy face,
A bright light emanates from Jesus' sacred countenance