He recorded and performed primarily with an acoustic guitar and sang about his joy in nature, his disdain for city life, his enthusiasm for music, and his relationship trials. Denver's music appeared on a variety of charts, including country music, the Billboard Hot 100, and adult contemporary, in all earning him twelve gold and four platinum albums with his signature songs "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Annie's Song", "Rocky Mountain High", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and "Sunshine on My Shoulders".
Denver starred in films and several notable television specials in the 1970s and 1980s. He continued to record in the 1990s, also focusing on environmental issues by lending vocal support to space exploration and testifying in front of Congress in protest against censorship in music. He lived in Aspen, Colorado for much of his life and was known for his love of Colorado which he sang about numerous times. In 1974 Denver was named poet laureate of the state. The Colorado state legislature also adopted "Rocky Mountain High" as one of its two state songs in 2007. Denver was an avid pilot and died at the age of 53 in a single-fatality crash of his personal experimental aircraft.
noel
John Denver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
when the stars were shining
I travelled for the home
where westward falls the hill
And for many, many a village
in the darkness of the valley
Distant music reached me
peels of bells were ringing
Then spread my thoughts to olden times
to that first of Christmases
When shepherds who were watching
heard music in the fields
And they sat there and they marvelled
and they knew they could not tell
Whether it were angels or the bright stars a-singing
But to me heard afar
it was starry music
The singing of the angels
the comfort of our Lord
Words of old that come a travelling by the riches of the times
And I softly listened as I stood upon the hill
And I softly listened as I stood upon the hill
The lyrics to "Noel: Christmas Eve 1913" by John Denver and the Muppets evoke a wintery Christmas Eve mood as the singer travels home and hears peels of distant bells ringing. The singer's thoughts then wander to the first Christmas and the shepherds who heard music from angels or stars singing. However, to the singer, the music he hears is starry and angelic, bringing comfort and the words of old that have traveled through time. As the singer stands upon the hill, he softly listens to the music.
Line by Line Meaning
A frosty Christmas Eve
It was a cold Christmas Eve.
when the stars were shining
The stars were visible in the night sky.
I travelled for the home
I was travelling back home.
where westward falls the hill
My home was located where the hill goes downwards in the west direction.
And for many, many a village
I passed by a lot of small villages.
in the darkness of the valley
These villages were located in valleys, where it was dark.
Distant music reached me
I could hear music from far away.
peels of bells were ringing
The sound of bells ringing was echoing throughout the area.
Then spread my thoughts to olden times
My mind wandered to the past.
to that first of Christmases
I thought about the very first Christmas day.
When shepherds who were watching
There were shepherds present during the first Christmas.
heard music in the fields
The shepherds heard music while they were in the fields.
And they sat there and they marvelled
The shepherds were amazed and stunned by what they heard.
and they knew they could not tell
They couldn't determine if what they heard was angels or stars singing.
Whether it were angels or the bright stars a-singing
They were uncertain if the music was being sung by angels or stars.
But to me heard afar
From my perspective, having heard the music from far away,
it was starry music
The music had a celestial quality to it.
The singing of the angels
I believe the music was being sung by angels.
the comfort of our Lord
Listening to the music made me feel comforted by God.
Words of old that come a travelling by the riches of the times
The lyrics of the song have been passed down through generations by rich traditions.
And I softly listened as I stood upon the hill
I stood on the hill and listened attentively to the music, wanting to take it all in.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Lee Holdridge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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J Parker
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Donna Adkins
John Denver was such an awesome person... he found beauty in nature and sang about it's importance to the world...
james Donley
Class real class!!
*SUPERSTAR LEGEND TRIBUTES*
beautiful poor sweet soul
Robbie van der Blom
Om alvast in de stemming te komen