What Child Is This?
Island Choral Experience 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
Hast, haste to bring him laud

The babe, the son of Mary

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh
These gifts so rare we bring to him
The King of Kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts surround you
Raise, raise the song on high
The Virgin sings her lullaby

Joy, joy, for Christ is born
The Babe, the Son of Mary

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Island Choral Experience's song, "What Child Is This," tell the story of the birth of Christ. The first verse describes the scene - Mary is holding her child in her lap as he sleeps, watched over by shepherds and greeted by angels. The second verse announces the identity of the child: He is Christ the King, the one whom shepherds guard and angels sing. The third verse calls for people to bring gifts to the child - incense, gold, and myrrh - as a sign of their love and devotion. The final verse celebrates the joy of Christ's birth, with Mary singing a lullaby and all voices raised in joyful song.

The lyrics of this song are based on the traditional English folk song "Greensleeves." The melody of the first half of each verse is the same as the "Greensleeves" melody, while the second half is different. The lyrics were written in the 19th century by William Chatterton Dix, an insurance salesman who later became a hymn writer.

Line by Line Meaning

What child is this, who, laid to rest
Who is this young child, peacefully sleeping?

On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Resting on Mary's lap?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
The one whom angels welcome with sweet melodies

While shepherds watch are keeping?
While the shepherds keep watch

This, this is Christ the King
This is the divine King, Jesus Christ

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
The one whom shepherds protect and angels celebrate

Hast, haste to bring him laud
Quickly, let us offer our praises

The babe, the son of Mary
The infant, who is Mary's son

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh
As gifts, let us offer him incense, gold, and myrrh

These gifts so rare we bring to him
We bring him these precious and uncommon presents

The King of Kings salvation brings
The Savior of all, the King of Kings, brings salvation