In 2002, the band released their popular second album, Spoken For, which produced two more Top 10 hits. The combined success of the band's first two albums garnered a nomination for the Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist at the American Music Awards.
In 2004, MercyMe released Undone which produced two Top 10 hits: Here With Me which also hit Billboard's Top 100 chart that same year, and In The Blink of an Eye which, as of the end of 2005, was at #5 on R&R's top Christian hits. In 2005 they also released their Christmas album titled The Christmas Sessions.
2006 saw the release of the album Coming Up to Breathe, which peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Christian Albums, and #13 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Also released was Coming Up to Breathe Acoustic.
In 2007, MercyMe released their newest album, All That Is Within Me, which debuted at #15 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.
In 2010 they released The Generous Mr. Lovewell. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Christian Albums chart.
August 30, 2011 they released an album titled The Worship Sessions; it's currently exclusive to Family Christian Bookstores and can not be found on iTunes or Amazon.
The The Hurt & The Healer Songfacts says that their eighth major label studio album, The Hurt & Tye Healer, will be released on May 22, 2012. The record was produced by Brown Bannister and Dan Muckala and is centered around the concept of bringing healing to the hurting.
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
MercyMe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven's gracious King."
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long
Beneath the blessed angel strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven's gracious King."
O hush the noise ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven's gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels' song.
To hear the angels' song.
The opening line of MercyMe's "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" describes the arrival of the "glorious song of old" that is sung by the angels. This event occurred at midnight, and the song is "glorious" because it is sung by the angels. The angels are described as having "bended near the earth" to play beautiful music on their harps, which implies that they are always near us, watching and taking care of us.
The song then goes on to state that the angels still visit us, with their "peaceful wings unfurled" and heavenly music that can be heard all over the world. They sing about "peace on earth" and "good will to men" which represents the birth of Jesus and the hope He brings to the world. Despite the "woes of sin and strife" that the world has endured for "two thousand years of wrong," the angels continue to sing in hopes of bringing peace to the world.
The song concludes with the angels' message ringing out to "hush the noise" of the world's conflicts and strife, and to listen to their message of peace. The world is described as being in a state of "solemn stillness," waiting to hear the angels' song, and the tune fades out with the repeated phrase, "to hear the angels' song."
Line by Line Meaning
It came upon the midnight clear,
At midnight, a beautiful song emerged from the skies, sung by ancient angels.
That glorious song of old,
This was a majestic and historic song.
From angels bending near the earth,
Angels approached the earth to share their heavenly music.
To touch their harps of gold:
They played their golden harps and blessed the earth with their divine music.
Still through the cloven skies they come
They continue to arrive through the parted skies.
With peaceful wings unfurled,
They come with wide, calming wings.
And still their heavenly music floats
Their music still drifts through the air.
O'er all the weary world;
It reaches every corner of the world, where people are tired and in need of peace.
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
The message in their song is that peace and goodwill should be given to all humankind.
From heaven's gracious King."
This message came from a king in heaven, who is full of grace.
Yet with the woes of sin and strife
Despite this message of peace, the world has been plagued with suffering and conflict due to sin.
The world has suffered long
The world has suffered for a long time.
Beneath the blessed angel strain have rolled
Throughout this time, the world has been blessed by this angelic song.
Two thousand years of wrong
This suffering has been ongoing for two thousand years.
"O hush the noise ye men of strife
The angels urge those who cause conflict to be silent.
And hear the angels sing
Instead, they should listen to the beautiful song of the angels.
"Peace on the earth, good will to men,
This message is repeated to emphasize its importance.
From heaven's gracious King."
This message came from a king in heaven, who is full of grace.
The world in solemn stillness lay,
The world was listening to the song of the angels in total calm.
To hear the angels' song.
The purpose of the world's stillness was to listen intently to the beautiful music of the angels.
Contributed by Elijah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Angus Wang
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Prepper Dawg
Never gets old, still listening 12/2020
Angus Wang
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Florence Parker
Glorious Christmas worship!!!!! 🎄
Clodplaye
The best version of this song, ever!
Prepper Dawg
Agreed, my favorite by far.
Proto
the memories are flooding back from when i used to go to sleep to this album every night as a kid. wow.
Lucas Sheridon
Love this song.
Aime K
LOVE!LOVE THIS ALBUM!!!
Perry Kidd
Never Gets Old ...Merry Christmas To All...
Freedom
Awesome job!