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.
O Holy Night
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night
Of the dear Saviour's birth
Long lay the world
In sin and error pining
Till He appeared
A thrill of hope
The weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees!
Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night, O holy night
O night divine!
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night
O holy night
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born
Neil Diamond's O Holy Night is an awe-inspiring Christmas carol that touches the very depths of the soul with its message of hope, faith, and redemption. The lyrics begin with a description of a dark and quiet night, where the stars are shining brightly. It is a night that is dear to the heart of every believer, for it is the night when Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, was born. The language is evocative, with words like "holy" and "divine" conveying the sacredness of the moment.
The second verse speaks of the long wait for the savior, with the world lying in sin and error, waiting for his arrival. When Christ was born, the soul felt its worth, and a thrill of hope filled the air. This hope can be felt by all who believe, and it is a source of great joy and comfort. The chorus encourages the listener to fall on their knees and listen to the angel voices that accompanied the birth of the king. The final lines of the song repeat the joyous refrain of the night when Christ was born, underscoring the significance of this moment in history.
Overall, Neil Diamond's O Holy Night is a beautiful and moving tribute to the birth of Christ, and the hope and joy that he brought into the world. It is a song that can be cherished by believers and non-believers alike, for its message of hope is universal and timeless.
Line by Line Meaning
O holy night!
This is a sacred night!
The stars are brightly shining
The stars are shining brilliantly.
It is the night
This night in particular
Of the dear Saviour's birth
Is the night when the savior was born.
Long lay the world
For a long time, the world was in this state.
In sin and error pining
It yearned, lost in sin and error.
Till He appeared
Until he revealed himself.
And the Soul felt its worth
It finally appreciated its value.
A thrill of hope
A ray of optimism filled it.
The weary soul rejoices
It brings delight to even the tired soul.
For yonder breaks
Over there something falls apart,
A new and glorious morn
An incredible new morning.
Fall on your knees!
Kneel before the divine greatness.
Oh, hear the angel voices!
Listen to the voice of the heavenly creature!
O night divine
This is a night of magnificence.
O night when Christ was born
This is when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night
Oh, what a holy night this is!
O night divine!
This is a divinely blessed night!
O night when Christ was born
This is when Christ was born.
O night
This night, in particular, is significant.
O holy night
It's a sacred night!
O night divine!
This is a divinely blessed night!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDITH BERGDAHL, TRADITIONAL, NAT COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dolores Fry
This is my choir.
I was then & still now in awe of what he created with us.
Love ya Neil,
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to sing with you.
A memory that lights up my heart & soul with joy & love
Betty Fullbrook
..
Liz Kretschmer
Awesome!!
James Last
Dolores, the notes that you guys hit on this song are incredible. Neil is in top singing form. All around an awesome performance.
galaxies7
Amazing to know that. Thanks for sharing.
Sweetpea027
Praises to the name of Jesus Christ our Lord & Savior . Thank God for Neil Diamond singing for Christ !!! Thanks for sharing this video ; it's great !!! God bless Mr. Neil Diamond !!!!
Maria Spiteri
👍👍👍👍👍
THG Driver
I remember watching that Christmas Special and thinking something really great was taking place. I listened to him sing this
in 92 and here we are 22 years later. I have yet to hear anyone sing it better. The choir, looking at their respective faces, you can tell they know they are apart of this magical moment, proud to lend their voices to back someone who can actually sing.
Karen Buckley
@James Last I could not agree with you any more James especially on reaching into ones very spirit.
James Last
I totally agree! Perhaps there are singers who have a greater vocal range, but none has rivaled Neil's passion and his ability to spiritually move the listener.