From the 1960s to the 1980s, Diamond was one of the more successful pop music performers, scoring a number of hits. As critic William Ruhlmann writes, "as of 2001, he claimed worldwide record sales of 115 million copies, and as of 2002 he was ranked third, behind only Elton John and Barbra Streisand, on the list of the most successful adult contemporary artists in the history of the Billboard chart."[1] As of May 2005 he has sold 120 million records worldwide, including 48 million records in the U.S.[2]
Though his record sales declined somewhat after the 1980s, Diamond continues to tour successfully, and maintains a very loyal following. Diamond's songs have been recorded by a vast array of performers from many different musical genres.
Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984, and then in 2000 was given its Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the early part of 2011.
In 2008 Neil Diamond scored his first ever Billboard number one album with "Home Before Dark", the album also became his first studio album to get to number one in the UK.
CandleLight Carol
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The wind on the water?
How do you count all the stars in the sky?
How can you measure
The love of a mother
Or how can you write down
A baby's first cry?
Firelight and star glow
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Angels are singing
The Christ child is born
Shepherds and wise men
Will kneel and adore him
Seraphim round him their vigil will keep
Nations proclaim him
Their Lord and their Saviour
But Mary will hold him
And sing him to sleep
Candlelight, angel light
Firelight and star glow
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Angels are singing
The Christ child is born
Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger
Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay
Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation
A child with his mother
That first Christmas Day
Candlelight, angel light
Firelight and star glow
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Angels are singing
The Christ child is born
Angels are singing
The Christ child is born
In this song, Neil Diamond ponders on the contrasting thoughts and feelings that come with the birth of a child, particularly the birth of Christ. He expresses his wonderment at how one can capture the beauty of nature and measure the depth of love that a mother holds for her child. The opening lines, "How do you capture the wind on the water? How do you count all the stars in the sky?", serve as a metaphor for the limitations of human understanding when it comes to comprehending the mystical aspects of life. He also highlights the age-old idea that the birth of a child - particularly one as significant as Christ - is a universal event that transcends all boundaries and inspires devotion from nations and individuals alike.
Furthermore, Diamond explores the idea that while the birth of Christ ignites an unparalleled spiritual awakening that shakes the heavens, the most intimate and powerful moments unfold in the seemingly ordinary relationship between a mother and her child. The lines "But Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep" underscore the primal and instinctual bond that exists between a mother and child, a bond that can be felt and understood without the need for language or analysis.
Overall, the lyrics of CandleLight Carol bring to light the beauty, majesty and mystery surrounding the birth of Christ, while also emphasizing the theme of the universality of the experience and the depth of human emotion that it continues to evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
How do you capture
How do you seize
The wind on the water?
The intangible force of nature- the breeze- is unpredictable and cannot be controlled or captured
How do you count all the stars in the sky?
The stars are countless and their number is immeasurable
How can you measure
How can you quantify
The love of a mother
Maternal love is a subjective feeling that cannot be measured in a quantitative manner
Or how can you write down
Or how can you articulate in words
A baby's first cry?
The first cry of a newborn is a deeply emotional experience that is difficult to convey in words
Candlelight, angel light
The flickering light of a candle and the divine radiance of an angel
Firelight and star glow
The warm glow of a fire and the twinkling light of stars
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Illuminate the baby's bed until sunrise
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, Glory to God in the highest!
Angels are singing
Heavenly beings are rejoicing
The Christ child is born
The Messiah- a symbol of peace and hope- has been born
Shepherds and wise men
Common people and knowledgeable men
Will kneel and adore him
Will prostrate in reverence and worship him
Seraphim round him their vigil will keep
Angelic beings will keep watch over him
Nations proclaim him
People from all over the world declare him
Their Lord and their Saviour
Their ruler and the one who rescues them
But Mary will hold him
But Mary will carry him in her arms
And sing him to sleep
And sing a lullaby to calm him to slumber
Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger
Located in Bethlehem, the baby is sleeping in a feeding trough
Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay
Jesus, our savior, is resting in the straw
Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation
The divine essence in human form is the source of hope for redemption from sin
A child with his mother
A baby in the company of his mother
That first Christmas Day
On the initial Christmas Day
Contributed by Katherine L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.