Finding his voice in a school choir, Crawford began his professional career still a teenager. Having some luck on the London stage in the early 60s, he then found his way onto the BBC and starred in various programmes such as 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em'. He also had film roles in 'The War Lover', 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'. and 'How I Won the War' (which brought him into the same work as John Lennon).
Andrew Lloyd Webber's casting of him opposite Sarah Brightman and Steve Barton as the Phantom in 1986 shot his career into high gear. Winning a Tony Award for his role, Crawford also had the aforementioned tune, "The Music Of The Night", reach the British Top Ten. He has released several studio albums such as 'A Touch of Music in the Night' and 'On Eagle's Wings' among others.
A Strange Way to Save the World
Michael Crawford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At where this road had taken him
'Cause never in a million lives
Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem
And standing at the manger
He saw with his own eyes
The message from the angel come to life
Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade?
Why Him with all the rulers in the world?
Why here inside this stable filled with hay?
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl?
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But this is such a strange way
To save the world
To think of how it could have been
If Jesus had come as He deserved
There would have been no Bethlehem
No lowly shepherds at His birth
But Joseph knew the reason
The love had to reach so far
And as he held the Savior in his arms
He must have thought
Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade?
Why Him with all the rulers in the world?
Why here inside this stable filled with hay?
Why me, I'm just an ordinary girl?
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But this is such a strange way
To save the world
Now I'm not one to second guess
What angels have to say
But this is such a strange way
To save the world
Such a strange way
What a strange way
Such a strange way
To save the world
The song "A Strange Way to Save the World," as performed by Michael Crawford, is a reflective piece that explores the irony and unexpectedness of the way in which Jesus came into the world. The song is sung from the perspective of Joseph, who is amazed and humbled by the role he has been given as the earthly father of the Son of God. He questions why God would choose someone like him, a simple man of trade, to raise the Savior of the world. He marvels at the fact that the King of kings was born in a humble stable, wrapped in swaddling cloths, and laid in a manger. While Joseph may not fully understand why things happened the way they did, he recognizes that God's plan for salvation was ultimately fulfilled in a strange but beautiful way.
The lyrics of this song highlight the paradoxical nature of the story of Christ's birth. The coming of the Messiah was not grand and glorious, but rather humble and unassuming. It was not announced to the most powerful and influential people in the world, but rather to lowly shepherds in the countryside. The lyrics reflect the confusion and awe that Joseph must have felt that God would choose such an unconventional way to save the world. While we may not fully comprehend the reasons for God's actions, we can trust that His plan is always good and perfect.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sure he must have been surprised
He must have been taken aback by how his path led him to Bethlehem
At where this road had taken him
Surprised by the destination of his journey
'Cause never in a million lives
He wouldn't have anticipated ending up in Bethlehem
Would he have dreamed of Bethlehem
Bethlehem was a destination beyond his wildest imagination
And standing at the manger
He witnessed the birthplace of Jesus alongside the people of Bethlehem
He saw with his own eyes
And witnessed firsthand
The message from the angel come to life
The prophecy of the angel was fulfilled before the eyes of the people present
And Joseph said
Joseph had questions about the unconventional nature of the event that occurred
Why me, I'm just a simple man of trade?
Joseph wondered why he was chosen for this task instead of someone more significant
Why Him with all the rulers in the world?
Joseph questioned why Jesus, a seemingly insignificant baby, was chosen instead of influential people
Why here inside this stable filled with hay?
Joseph wondered why Jesus was born in a stable rather than a grand location
Why her, she's just an ordinary girl?
Joseph wondered why Mary, an ordinary woman, was chosen to bear Jesus
Now I'm not one to second guess
Even though he had questions
What angels have to say
Joseph still believes in the divine purpose of what happened
But this is such a strange way
Despite seeing the fulfillment of the prophecy, the circumstances were not what Joseph expected
To save the world
But ultimately, the unconventional nature of the event had a profound impact on the world
To think of how it could have been
The alternative scenario that Joseph imagines
If Jesus had come as He deserved
If Jesus came as a powerful and influential leader
There would have been no Bethlehem
Bethlehem would have been an insignificant location without the birth of Jesus
No lowly shepherds at His birth
Without Jesus being born in a stable, lowly shepherds wouldn't have been present at His birth
But Joseph knew the reason
Joseph understands that there is a reason for this unconventional occurrence
The love had to reach so far
The unconventional nature of the event allowed love to reach everyone, not just the powerful and privileged
And as he held the Savior in his arms
As Joseph held baby Jesus in his arms
He must have thought
Joseph considered the significance of what had happened
Such a strange way
Unusual circumstances
What a strange way
The unconventional nature of what had occurred
To save the world
Ultimately, the impact of the unconventional event was profound in bringing love and salvation to the world
Contributed by Claire E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.