Roger Whittaker (born Roger Henry Brough Whittaker in Nairobi, Kenya, on 22… Read Full Bio ↴Roger Whittaker (born Roger Henry Brough Whittaker in Nairobi, Kenya, on 22 March 1936; died 13 September 2023 ) was a British singer-songwriter and musician remembered for his eclectic mix of folk music and popular song, his baritone singing voice, and his trademark whistling skills.

He became widely known for his version of "Wind Beneath My Wings" (1982), as well as his own compositions "Durham Town (The Leavin')" (1969) and "I Don't Believe in If Anymore" (1970), his 1970 hit "New World in the Morning" and his 1975 hit "The Last Farewell" (his only single to hit the US Billboard Hot 100, making it to the Top 20).

Whittakers first chart success came in 1969 when "Durham Town (The Leavin')" was his first UK Top 20 hit. In 1970 came two follow-up hits, "I Don't Believe In If Anymore" (Top 10) and "New World In The Morning" (Top 20), and 1971 brought two smaller hit singles "Why" and "Mamy Blue".

Whittaker was absent from the UK singles chart until 1975, when "The Last Farewell" went Top 3, after which it was another eleven years until "Skye Boat Song" returned him to the Top 10 of the singles chart.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Whittaker had success in Germany, with German language songs produced by Nick Munro (unable to speak German at that time, Whittaker sang the songs phonetically). In time he became more fluent in German and sang and was interviewed in German on Danish television in November 2008. Whittaker retired from touring in 2013.

Stille Nacht heilige Nacht
Roger Whittaker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
alles schläft, einsam wacht,
nur das traute hochheilige Paar,
holder Knabe in lockigem Haar,
schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,
schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht.

Hirten erst kundgemacht,
durch der Engel halleluja,
tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ der Retter ist da!
Christ der Retter ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht.
Lieb aus deinem göttlichem Mund,
da uns schlägt die rettende Stund,

Christ in deiner Geburt.
Christ in deiner Geburt.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Roger Whittaker's Stille Nacht-Heilige Nacht describe the peaceful and holy night when Jesus was born. The first verse sets the scene, with everything sleeping except for the holy couple and their curly-haired child. The second verse depicts the announcement of Jesus' birth to the shepherds by singing Hallelujah from afar, proclaiming that the savior has come. The final verse celebrates the birth of Christ as the moment of salvation for all, with his laugh symbolizing the joy and hope he brings to the world.

The song's lyrics focus on the central themes of Christmas — hope, peace, and salvation. It emphasizes the holy nature of the night, with the "traute hochheilige Paar" representing the sacred union of Mary and Joseph. The message of the song is that God sent his Son to save humanity from sin, and this knowledge brought peace to Earth.

Line by Line Meaning

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Quiet night, holy night,

alles schläft, einsam wacht,
Everything is asleep, only one keeps watch,

nur das traute hochheilige Paar,
Only the dear high and holy couple,

holder Knabe in lockigem Haar,
Gentle boy with curly hair,

schlaf in himmlischer Ruh,
Sleep in heavenly peace,

schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht.
Quiet night, holy night.

Hirten erst kundgemacht,
Shepherds announced it first,

durch der Engel halleluja,
With the angels' hallelujah,

tönt es laut von fern und nah:
It resounds loudly from far and near:

Christ der Retter ist da!
Christ the Savior is here!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Quiet night, holy night,

Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht.
God's son, oh how he laughs.

Lieb aus deinem göttlichem Mund,
Love from your divine mouth,

da uns schlägt die rettende Stund,
As the redeeming hour strikes for us,

Christ in deiner Geburt.
Christ in your birth.

Writer(s): FRANZ GRUBER

Contributed by Avery D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Richard Meunier

2y↑1

È l’nut’ påhûle - Noyé è walon di Lîdje - Êr Stille Nacht
È l’nut’ påhûle - René Tchåmont (Jean-Denys Boussart - Gruber)

È l’nut’ påhûle
Qui nos rafûle
Ine tchanson
S’ènonde å lon
Ine vile êr come nos mames tarlatît
È l’iviér, qwand riv’nît lès bèrdjîs
On tchant d’amoûr et d’påye
Qu’ine andje lèya so nos vôyes

On teût di strin
Li steûle d’årdjint
Lès treûs rwès
Là qui passèt
So l’campagne ossi blanke qu’ine bèrbis
Doûce imådje d’on fråhûle paradis
Dès vårlets fèt ‘ne ronde danse
Po l’mamé qui rèy è s’banse

On l’a tant brêt
Et tant tchanté
Qui Noyé
È-st-arivé
Noûve loumire vinowe dè fond dès ans
Fris’ riya so lès lèpes di l’Èfant
Nos vwès montèt, lèdjires
Po fièsti li Fi dè Cir

È l’nut’ påhûle
Qui nos rafûle

Dans la nuit paisible - René Chaumont, basse noble

Dans la nuit paisible
Qui nous enveloppe
Une chanson
S’élève au loin
Un vieil air comme nos mamans fredonnaient
En hiver, quand revenaient les bergers
Un chant d’amour et de paix
Qu’un ange laissa sur nos chemins

Un toit de paille
L’étoile d’argent
Les trois rois
Là qui passent
Sur la campagne aussi blanche qu’une brebis
Douce image d’un fragile paradis
Des valets de ferme font une ronde
Pour l’enfant qui rit dans son berceau

On l’a tant crié
Et tant chanté
Que Noël
Est arrivé
Nouvelle lumière venue du fond des ans
Rire frais sur les lèvres de l’Enfant
Nos voix montent, légères
Pour fêter le Fils du Ciel

Dans la nuit paisible
Qui nous enveloppe

All comments from YouTube:

Zuzana Poledníková

4y↑1

Jedna z nejkrásnějších koled 😊👍👌🎄

Christa Schwarzott

5y↑7

ich glaube es ist das schönste Weihnachtslied der Welt , schließlich wird es in über 320 Sprachen und Dialekten übersetzt .....ich kenne kein Lied das sooft übersetzt wurde. Dieses Lied klingt egal ob Männer - , Frauen -oder Kinderstimme immer schön