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.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Glory to the new-born King!
Christ, by highest heaven adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold him come
Offspring of the Virgin's womb
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
The lyrics to Neil Diamond's adaptation of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" are rich in meaning and message. The song begins with the proclamation of the angels to sing glory to the newborn king, which refers to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The lyrics then continue to emphasize the importance of his arrival, as it brings peace on earth, mercy, and the reconciliation of God and sinners. This is a powerful message because it describes the moment when humanity is given hope for the salvation of sinners.
The second verse of the song stresses the importance of Jesus as a savior, as well as his humanity. It states that he was "pleased as man with man to dwell" and that he is "Emmanuel," meaning "God with us." This emphasizes the idea that Jesus was both fully God and fully human, which makes his arrival crucial to the salvation of humanity. The final verse hails Jesus as the "Prince of Peace" and "Son of Righteousness" who brings light and life to all. It also references Jesus' healing power as a sign of his divinity.
Overall, the lyrics of this song are filled with complex theological implications that relate to the significance of the birth of Jesus Christ. They emphasize his humanity, divinity, and the importance of his arrival in bringing peace and healing to humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark! the herald angels sing
Listen! The angels who announce important news from God are singing
Glory to the new-born King!
Praise to the new ruler who has just been born!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
May there be peace on earth and may mercy be shown
God and sinners reconciled!
God has made peace with those who have sinned
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Everyone in every nation, be happy and stand up
Join the triumph of the skies
Take part in celebrating the victory of heaven
With the angelic host proclaim
Together with the angels, announce
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
The savior has been born in Bethlehem!
Christ, by highest heaven adored
Christ, who is worshiped by the highest heaven
Christ, the everlasting Lord
Christ, the never-ending ruler
Late in time behold him come
He has arrived, but it was a long time in the making
Offspring of the Virgin's womb
He was born to a virgin mother
Pleased as man with man to dwell
He was happy to live among people in human form
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Jesus, who is also known as Emmanuel, meaning 'God with us'
Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace
Greet and honor the prince of peace sent from heaven
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Greet and honor the son who represents righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
He brings light and life to every person
Risen with healing in His wings
Rising up, he brings healing with him
Hark! the herald angels sing
Listen! The angels who announce important news from God are singing
Glory to the new-born King!
Praise to the new ruler who has just been born!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Listen! The angels who announce important news from God are singing
Glory to the new-born King!
Praise to the new ruler who has just been born!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind