In the Bleak Midwinter
Jones Aled Lyrics
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Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow
In the bleak mid-winter, long ago
Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain
Heav'n and earth shall flee away, when He comes to reign
In the bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed
Enough for him whom cherubim worship night and day
A breastful of milk and a manger full of hay
Enough for him whom angels fall down before
The ox and ass and camel which adore
What can I give Him poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb
If I were a wise man I would do my part
Yet what I can I give Him, give my heart
The lyrics of Jones Aled's song 'In The Bleak Midwinter' speak of the harsh winter weather and the humility of Jesus Christ's birth in a stable. The first stanza describes the wintry conditions with earth frozen solid and snow falling continuously. With this setting, the following stanzas focus on the spiritual significance of Christ's arrival. The second stanza emphasizes that neither heaven nor earth can contain Him as He is the Almighty Lord. The third stanza marvels at how a humble stable could suffice for Christ's birthplace, even though He is worshipped by cherubim and angels. The final stanza speaks of an individual's desire to give something to Jesus, despite being poor. The lyrics suggest that one can give their heart even though they may not have tangible resources to offer.
The religious aspect of the lyrics is evident, as they focus on the birth of Jesus Christ. The relation to the winter and harsh weather conditions, although depictive, also adds to the portrayal of how Jesus was born in very humble settings, as evidenced by the use of a stable as a birthing place. The song also highlights how individuals respond to Christ's birth, with the final stanza questioning what one can give to Jesus despite being poor.
Line by Line Meaning
In the bleak mid-winter frosty wind made moan
In the cold and dark winter, the wind made a mournful sound
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone
The ground was frozen hard and the water turned to ice
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow
Snow had piled up, one layer on top of another, creating a snowy landscape
In the bleak mid-winter, long ago
This bleak mid-winter happened a long time ago
Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain
God is so powerful that neither heaven nor earth can contain Him
Heav'n and earth shall flee away, when He comes to reign
When God comes to rule, both heaven and earth will disappear
In the bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed
Even in the cold and humble stable, it was enough for Jesus to be born there
God The Lord Almighty, Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the almighty God
Enough for him whom cherubim worship night and day
The love and adoration of the cherubim is enough for Him
A breastful of milk and a manger full of hay
A simple meal of milk and hay in a manger was enough for Him
Enough for him whom angels fall down before
The worship of the angels is enough for Him
The ox and ass and camel which adore
Even the animals in the stable recognize and worship Him
What can I give Him poor as I am?
As a poor person, what can I possibly give to Him?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb
If I were a shepherd, I would offer a lamb as a gift
If I were a wise man I would do my part
If I were a wise man, I would give what I could
Yet what I can I give Him, give my heart
But the most valuable thing I have to offer is my heart
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Shelley, Gustav Holst
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind