"I sing God's music because it makes me feel free," Jackson once said about her choice of gospel, adding, "It gives me hope. With the blues, when you finish, you still have the blues."
Jackson grew up in the "Black Pearl" section of the Carrollton neighbourhood of uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, and began singing in a Baptist church. In 1927 she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she sang with The Johnson Brothers, one of the earliest professional gospel groups.
The Johnson Brothers broke up in the mid-1930s, and Jackson began her solo career, recording for Decca in 1937. The result, "God's Gonna Separate the Wheat from the Tares", was only a moderate success, but Jackson became a popular concert draw. She didn't record again untill 1946, when she signed with Apollo Records, releasing several singles that are now highly regarded, though sales were sluggish at the time. "Move On up a Little Higher" (1948) became a huge success, however, and stores could not stock enough of it to meet demand. Jackson rocketed to fame in the U.S. and soon afterwards in Europe. "I Can Put My Trust in Jesus" won a prize from the French Academy, and "Silent Night" was one of the best-selling singles in the history of Norway. She began a radio series on CBS and signed to Columbia Records in 1954. With her mainstream success came an inevitable backlash from gospel purists who felt she had watered down her sound for popular accessibility.
Jackson's career in the late 1950s and early 1960s continued to rise when she recorded with Percy Faith, and performed at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival and the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. She also sang at the funeral of her friend Martin Luther King, Jr. The late 1960s saw a downturn in her popular success. She ended her career with a concert in Germany in 1971; when she returned, she made one of her final television appearances on The Flip Wilson Show.
Jackson died in Chicago on 27th January 1972 of heart failure and diabetes at the age of sixty. She was buried in Providence Memorial Park in Metairie, Louisiana. She was posthumously inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1978.
What Child Is This
Mahalia Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Haste, haste to bring him Lord
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh
Come, peasant, king, to own Him
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him Lord
The Babe, the Son of Mary
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him Lord
The Babe, the Son of Mary
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him Lord
The Babe, the Son of Mary
The lyrics of Mahalia Jackson's "What Child Is This" is a reflection on the birth of Jesus Christ, the King of kings, who is laid to rest on Mary's lap. The song marvels at the significance of the birth of Jesus and the celebration that surrounds it. Angels greet the infant Jesus with sweet anthems while shepherds watch over him. The lyrics implore people to come and worship the newborn King by bringing him gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh.
The song speaks about the messianic promise and the establishment of a new kingdom that the birth of Jesus represents. The shepherds and the angels represent the humble and the divine, respectively. The shepherds point to the human dimension of Jesus, while the angels highlight the significance of his divinity. The song speaks to the reconciliation of these two dimensions - the human and the divine - in the person of Christ.
Overall, Mahalia's "What Child Is This" conveys the wonder and joy associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. It speaks to the promise of salvation, the reconciling of humanity with divinity, and the establishment of a kingdom unlike any other.
Line by Line Meaning
What child is this who, laid to rest
Who is this child that is peacefully sleeping?
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Who is sleeping gently on Mary's lap?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
Who is being welcomed by sweet angelic songs?
While shepherds watch are keeping?
While the shepherds are looking after Him?
This, this is Christ the King
This is the almighty ruler, Jesus Christ
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Whom the shepherds protect and angels celebrate
Haste, haste to bring him Lord
Quickly, quickly bring Him praise and worship
The Babe, the Son of Mary
Mary's child, the Son of God
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh
Bring Him expensive gifts to show your love
Come, peasant, king, to own Him
All people, the rich and the poor, should embrace Him
The King of kings salvation brings
Jesus Christ brings the salvation of all kings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
Let us set Him in our hearts as our King with love and reverence
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Roba Music Verlag GMBH, DistroKid, Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: . DP, JAMES F. HAMMERLY, WILLIAM CHATTERTON DIX, HAL H. HOPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SquidProQuo80
I couldn't help but weep while listening to this masterpiece... Mahalia was truly a precious vessel of the Holy Spirit!
@ladydiaspora807
You know how you listen to someone sing and you can tell whether they believe or feel what they are singing....Mahalia knows and believes what she's singing
@NOVEMBER5TH2024
Absolutely the most beautiful voice, so talented and controlled instrument. God bless her, may she rest in peace.
@abygalemoon6689
I'm Hebrew and not very religious. But Mahalia jams the whole nativity down our throats with this one. With no place to release the emotions just pour out of my eyes and down my face. I don't believe in god but I do believe in her.
@susanholme9695
Fabulous, amazing, what a voice 🙆
@kenny198807
How can you not believe in the creator of suck beauty. God Bless
@annabeluwaemenyi5890
Brings tears to my eyes. She sang this song so beautifully!!:)
@michaelmacdonald558
The greatest Christmas performance of all times
@gilarellanes1672
This is one of my favorites Christmas songs of all times. I Heard it in my early 20s. I listen to this for over 40 years.
I love her pure voice. Bring me happiness to the fullest. Thank you Tommy Timmins. For bringing this song into my my life. Gil
@ISVVVc628
The best version ever!!!!!!