ZION
Ordinary Time Lyrics
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Tonight, tonight, your saviour is born
This dark night in Bethlehem
The skies are full of angels singing Hallelujah
The shepherd boys were terrified
The glory of the lord cut through the night
Wise men came by starlight
And whispered to the newborn child A hallelujah
Sing, O sing, with heavenly host
The wonder of our saviour's birth
Peace be to all humankind
On this the holiest of nights Hallelujah
In “Zion”, the chorus invites the listener to wake up (“Awake, awake, O Zion”) and acknowledge the miracle of Jesus’ birth (“Tonight, tonight, your savior is born”). The song sets its scene in Bethlehem on a dark night, when the skies are full of singing angels. While the shepherd boys were initially overwhelmed by the splendor of the angels, they mustered up the courage to draw near to Jesus. Similarly, wise men who had followed the star for the sake of the newborn babe came to visit and whispered a “hallelujah” to him.
Throughout the song, “hallelujah” is used as a symbol of joy and gratitude for the birth of Jesus. While the chorus is upbeat, the lyrics are full of reverence for the holiest of nights and the wonder of the savior’s birth. The message of “Zion” is clear: that the birth of Jesus ought to inspire us to awaken to the miracle of grace and to break into songs of joy and thanksgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
Awake, awake, O Zion
Rise up and be alert, O people of Jerusalem
Tonight, tonight, your saviour is born
The awaited Messiah is born tonight
This dark night in Bethlehem
The setting is a dark night in the town of Bethlehem
The skies are full of angels singing Hallelujah
The heavens are alive with the joyful sounds of angels singing
The shepherd boys were terrified
The boys watching over their flocks were frightened
The glory of the lord cut through the night
God's magnificent light shone through the darkness
Wise men came by starlight
Magi guided by a star arrived
And whispered to the newborn child A hallelujah
They whispered a song of praise to the newborn Savior
Sing, O sing, with heavenly host
Join the angelic hosts in singing praises
The wonder of our saviour's birth
Celebrate the miracle of our Savior's birth
Peace be to all humankind
May peace be granted to all humanity
On this the holiest of nights Hallelujah
On this most sacred of nights, we sing our praises to God
Contributed by Nolan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.