O Little Town of Bethlehem
London Philharmonic Orchestra Lyrics


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Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.

Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by




Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

Overall Meaning

The first stanza of the song O Little Town of Bethlehem describes the scene of Bethlehem on the night of Christ's birth. The town is still and quiet, as if in a deep sleep, with only the stars shining overhead. However, the darkness is not absolute, for there is an everlasting light that shines on the streets. This light represents the hope of salvation that Christ brings to the world. The phrase "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight" emphasizes that the birth of Jesus brings together all the hopes and fears of humanity, and that this moment is significant for all time. The town of Bethlehem thus becomes a central symbol of the birth of Christ, representing the place where the divine and the human worlds meet.


The second stanza of the song describes the event of Christ's birth itself. Christ is born of Mary, and above the sleeping mortals, the angels are watching in wonder. The morning stars together proclaim the holy birth of Christ, and in response, people sing praises to God and ask for peace on earth. The repetition of the first stanza at the end of the song reinforces the idea that Bethlehem is the place where the divine and the human meet, and that the birth of Christ is a moment of great significance for humanity.


Overall, O Little Town of Bethlehem is a powerful hymn that captures the significance of the birth of Christ. Its use of the symbol of Bethlehem to represent the meeting of the divine and the human worlds emphasizes the importance of this moment for all of humanity.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
We see you, Bethlehem, quiet and serene, sleeping in peace.


Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
The stars shine so radiantly above you in your peaceful slumber.


Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
Even in the darkness of your streets, the light of the world shines bright.


The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Every year, hopes and fears have been met in this town on this night, as they are tonight.


For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
Mary has given birth to Christ, and all of the angels are assembled above.


While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
As humans slumber, the angels keep a watchful and loving eye over the birth of Christ.


Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
The morning stars announce the holy birth of Christ together.


And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.
We sing praises to God the king, and pray for peace for all people on earth.




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Lewis H Redner, Phillip Brooks

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Gracey Sladea

This reminds me of home alone twoπŸ™‚

Marc Suanez

enjoyable

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