What Child Is This
Helene Fischer feat. Plácido Domingo Lyrics

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What child is this, who laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the king
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary

Why lies he in such mean estate
Where ox and donkeys are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent word is pleading
This, this is Christ the king
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary
The child's king
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh
Come, peasant, king, to own him
The king of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone him
This, this is Christ the king
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud
The babe, the son of Mary

The child is there

Overall Meaning

, sleeping peacefully in Mary's lap. The angels send sweet songs of welcome to him, and the shepherds watch over him with care. The child is none other than Christ, the king whom everyone has been waiting for. The shepherds guard him while the angels sing, urging everyone to come and venerate him. They should hurry and bring him praise as he is the babe, the son of Mary.

Despite his divine status, the child is born in humble circumstances, lying amidst the ox and donkeys' feeding trough where he is unrecognised by most. As the grander nativity story unfolds, he is a sign of contradiction. He has come to plead silently with sinners and save them from the sins of the world. As the song progresses, he reassures his followers that he is their king, and as such, they should offer him the traditional gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh.

The song serves to remind us that Christ's arrival is a significant event that the whole world is waiting for. The lyrics explore his identity, his mission, and his purpose. They also remind us that despite his divine nature, he came into the world in a lowly manner with a message of hope and salvation for all.

Line by Line Meaning

What child is this, who laid to rest
Who is this child who is lying down to rest?

On Mary's lap is sleeping?
He is sleeping on the lap of Mary.

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
Angels greet Him with sweet hymns.

While shepherds watch are keeping?
While the shepherds are keeping watch.

This, this is Christ the king
This is Jesus Christ, the king.

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
The shepherds are guarding Him, while the angels sing His praises.

Haste, haste to bring him laud
Quickly, rush to offer Him praise.

The babe, the son of Mary
The baby, the son of Mary.

Why lies he in such mean estate
Why is He lying in such a modest state?

Where ox and donkeys are feeding?
Where the oxen and donkeys are feeding.

Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
Christians, be afraid because sinners are present.

The silent word is pleading
He is silently begging for forgiveness.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh
Bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh.

Come, peasant, king, to own him
Come, both peasant and king, to accept Him.

The king of kings salvation brings
The king of all kings brings salvation.

Let loving hearts enthrone him
Let our loving hearts enshrine Him.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Helene Fischer, Peter Koenemann, Alex Christensen, DP

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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