Little Town
Over The Rhine (Holiday) Lyrics
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How still we see thee lie
Above thy dark and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
The lamp lit streets of Bethlehem
We walk now through the night
There is no peace in Bethlehem
There is no peace in sight
The wounds of generations
Almost too deep to heal
Scar the timeworn miracle
And make it seem surreal
The baby in the manger
Grew to a man one day
And still we try to listen now
To what he had to say
Put up your swords forever
Forgive your enemies
Love your neighbor as yourself
Let your little children come to me
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy dark and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
The song "Little Town in Bethlehem" is a poignant and thought-provoking reflection on the true meaning of Christmas, and its relevance to our modern times. The first two stanzas set the scene, painting a picture of Bethlehem as a sleepy, quiet town, nestled under the light of the stars. However, the following verses delve deeper, exploring the darker realities of life in this ancient city. The wounds of years of conflict and strife are laid bare, rendering the "timeworn miracle" of the birth of Jesus almost surreal. In the face of such tragedy, it can be difficult to make sense of our beliefs and find peace in our hearts.
The song touches on the teachings of Jesus, who spent much of his life urging people to love their enemies, put down their swords, and come together in unity. The repetition of the phrase "there is no peace in Bethlehem" draws attention to the ongoing conflict in that part of the world and reminds us that the message of forgiveness, love, and unity is as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the reminder that the baby in the manger grew up to be a man who taught a message of love and forgiveness. Perhaps if we can heed his words, there is still hope for the world.
Line by Line Meaning
O little town of Bethlehem
Addressing the town of Bethlehem, where Jesus was born
How still we see thee lie
The town is quiet and peaceful
Above thy dark and dreamless sleep
The town is asleep in the darkness
The silent stars go by
The stars are watching over the town
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
Despite the darkness, there's a shining light in Bethlehem
The everlasting light
The light that shines in Bethlehem is eternal
The hopes and fears of all the years
All the past generations had hopes and fears which are associated with Bethlehem
Are met in thee tonight
All the aspirations and apprehensions are now realized in the town tonight
The lamp lit streets of Bethlehem
The streets in Bethlehem are now lit with lamps
We walk now through the night
We are walking through the town in the dark
There is no peace in Bethlehem
The town is not at peace
There is no peace in sight
The future doesn't look promising for the town either
The wounds of generations
The town has been scarred by the conflicts and problems of the past
Almost too deep to heal
The wounds of the town seem almost unhealable
Scar the timeworn miracle
The miraculous birth of Jesus is overshadowed by the problems and scars of the town
And make it seem surreal
The situation in the town seems unreal and contradictory
The baby in the manger
Referring to the newborn Jesus lying in the manger
Grew to a man one day
Jesus grew up and became a man
And still we try to listen now
We are still trying to understand his teachings and follow them even now
To what he had to say
Referring to the teachings and philosophies of Jesus
Put up your swords forever
Stop fighting and make peace permanently
Forgive your enemies
Stop holding grudges and forgive those who have wronged you
Love your neighbor as yourself
Treat others with the same kindness and compassion that you want for yourself
Let your little children come to me
Let the children learn about love and compassion from me, Jesus
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LINFORD DETWEILER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind