Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Brickman enrolled in the Cleveland Institute of Music taking courses in composition and performance, while taking business classes at Case Western Reserve University. His music career started when he was nineteen, when Jim Henson hired him to write tunes for Sesame Street. He was also hired to write commercial jingles while in college.
Brickman writes a wide variety of music. Besides his piano compositions and love songs, he has also created arrangements of other songs. Several of his albums feature arrangements of children's music; he has produced two Christmas-themed albums The Gift (1997) and Peace (2003); and his 2005 album Grace concentrates on arrangements of well-known Christian music.
Jim Brickman has also starred in the now-on-DVD PBS specials "My Romance: An Evening with Jim Brickman", "Love Songs & Lullabies" and "The Disney Songbook." In 2006, he sponsored his first Jim Brickman Valentine's Day Cruise with Carnival Cruise Lines which has become an annual event.
What Child Is This?
Jim Brickman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthem sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
This, this is Christ the King,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Jim Brickman What Child Is This? Lyrics
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and lamb are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King, etc.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come, peasant, kin to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This this is Christ the King...etc
The lyrics of Jim Brickman's song, "What Child Is This?" is a rendition of the traditional English Christmas carol. It speaks of the birth of Jesus Christ and the reactions of the people present at that time. At the beginning of the first verse, the song asks, "What child is this?" referring to the baby Jesus, who is sleeping in Mary's lap. The second line refers to the Christmas story where Jesus was placed in the manger, and it is here that he is "laid to rest." The third line talks about how the angels greeted him with sweet songs, while the shepherds watched over him.
In the second verse, the question is asked, "Why lies He in such mean estate where ox and lamb are feeding?" In this line, the song speaks of how, despite being the Son of God, Jesus was born in a humble manger among farm animals. The last two lines of the second verse are more somber as they talk about how "Good Christian, fear: for sinners here, the silent Word is pleading."
The final verse calls on the listener to bring "incense, gold, and myrrh" to honor the king of kings. It speaks of how he came to "bring salvation" and the need for "loving hearts" to enthrone Him. Overall, the song speaks of the importance of the birth of Jesus and the need to worship Him.
Line by Line Meaning
What child is this,
Who is this child?
Who, laid to rest,
Who is sleeping?
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Who is sleeping on the lap of Mary?
Whom angels greet with anthem sweet,
Who is being greeted sweetly by angels?
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Who is being watched by shepherds?
This, this is Christ the King,
This is the King of Christ.
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Who is being guarded by shepherds and sung to by angels?
Why lies He in such mean estate
Why is He lying in a lowly condition?
Where ox and lamb are feeding?
Where there are oxen and lambs feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
Good Christians should be afraid because the silent Word is pleading for sinners.
The silent Word is pleading.
The Word is silently pleading.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Bring incense, gold, and myrrh to Him.
Come, peasant, kin to own Him;
Come, peasants, and claim Him as your own.
The King of kings salvation brings
The salvation of the King of Kings is brought.
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Enthrone Him with loving hearts.
This this is Christ the King...
This is the King of Christ.
Contributed by Olivia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
EDENIL YOSHIMI KAIO TOYAMA
I MET YOU THROUGH THIS SONG AND I BECAME YOUR FAN......I CRIED TOO MUCH WHEN I HEARD THIS SONG FOR THE FIRST TIME....IS REALLY DIVINE AND I FELT DEEPLY TOUCHED!!! THERE ARE MANY OTHER SONGS THAT I LOVE MUCH!!!!YOU ARE MY BEST!!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!! ( I´M FROM BRAZIL )
Jim Brickman Music
Thank you so much, it's humbling to hear the song moved you to tears. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. - Team Brickman
MBR
Heard this song..played in many way through time..... enjoyed the sounds of Xylophone..Tambourine..through out.. For a moment there thought Jim Brickman was playing his ....second Instrument..Musical Chimes. Very Nice.
Geremy Gonzales // "SleepwalkerRinIsCutie"
What Child Is This is a Christmas version music of Greensleeves (1580 the 16th century year). Huh?!