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.
Silent Night
Neil Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia
Christ the Savior, is born!
Christ the Savior, is born!
(Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace)
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Neil Diamond's version of Silent Night is a soothing and peaceful rendition of the classic Christmas carol. The song begins with the singer describing the scene of a peaceful night, where everything is calm and bright, and the only company around is a virgin mother and her child, a holy infant so tender and mild. The singer then wishes for the infant to sleep in heavenly peace, providing a sense of comfort and tranquility.
The second verse introduces shepherds, who are overcome with fear as they are witness to the glories streaming from heaven afar. Heavenly hosts sing alleluia, a phrase that signifies the coming of the Savior, who is born to save the world. The third verse adds a religious symbolism to the song, describing the radiant beams from the holy face of the Son of God, and how he brings the dawn of the redeeming grace. The song culminates with the singer wishing Jesus, Lord, at his birth, signifying his belief and faith in the holy infant.
Line by Line Meaning
Silent night, holy night
The night is peaceful and sacred.
All is calm, all is bright
Everything is quiet and peaceful, and it is illuminated by the light.
Round yon virgin mother and child
Nearby is a virgin mother with her child.
Holy infant so tender and mild
The baby is pure and gentle.
Sleep in heavenly peace
Rest in peace and tranquility.
Shepherds quake at the sight
The sight of the baby has greatly affected the shepherds.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly light illuminates the earth.
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia
The angels sing praises of joy and happiness.
Christ the Savior, is born!
Christ, who will save humanity, has been born.
Silent night, holy night
The night is peaceful and sacred.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
At your birth, you became the Lord Jesus.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
At your birth, you became the Lord Jesus.
All is calm, all is bright
Everything is quiet and peaceful, and it is illuminated by the light.
Round yon virgin mother and child
Nearby is a virgin mother with her child.
Holy infant so tender and mild
The baby is pure and gentle.
Sleep in heavenly peace
Rest in peace and tranquility.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GLEN MATLOCK, PAUL THOMAS COOK, STEVE (GB 1) JONES, JOHN LYDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind