The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two NAACP Image Award nominations. They won Grammy Awards in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1998, and 2003 and have collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Don Henley, Ray Charles, Queen Latifah, Joe Sample, Quincy Jones, Marcus Miller and Gordon Goodwin.
In 1980, Claude McKnight formed an a cappella quartet, The Gentlemen's Estate Quartet, at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, a Seventh-Day Adventist College, where he was a freshman. He auditioned fellow students for the hobby group. The Gentlemen were rehearsing in a campus bathroom (later said to be in Peterson Hall), getting ready for a performance, when Mark Kibble walked by and heard them singing. He joined the harmonizing, adding a fifth part, and ended up singing with them onstage that very night.[1] Mark later invited Mervyn Warren to join the group. The group performed under the moniker "Alliance".
The group performed in local churches and on campus over the next years, with members changing due to college's inevitable comings and goings. In 1985, the lower half of the group (bass, baritone, and second tenor) left upon graduating. At that time, Alvin Chea, Cedric Dent, and David Thomas joined.
The group was signed to Warner Brothers in 1987, and quickly changed its name to "Take 6" after a name search revealed that "Alliance" was already being used. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1988, won them two Grammy Awards and resulted in top ten appearances on both the Billboard Contemporary Jazz and Contemporary Christian Charts. Take 6's swinging, harmony-rich gospel sound attracted a flurry of attention, and the group went on to record or appear with a number of luminaries, including Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder.
In 1991, after the release of their second album, So Much 2 Say, Mervyn Warren left the group to pursue a career as a producer. Joey Kibble, Mark's younger brother, was invited to round out the vocal lineup. The group added instrumentation to their purely a cappella sound beginning with the record He Is Christmas; Join The Band and Brothers continued their streak of success, and Take 6 amassed a total of seven Grammys and eight Dove awards, as well as topping the Downbeat Magazine's Reader's and Critic's poll for seven years' consecutively.
Take 6's 1998 release, So Cool, brought the group back to its a cappella origins.
In 2006 the group launched Take 6 Records and the 2006 release Feels Good was released on that label.
The group currently lists Nashville, Tennessee as its home.[2] All members grew up Seventh-Day Adventist.[
Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem
Take 6 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Above thy deep 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 are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep 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 are met in thee tonight.
The lyrics of the song "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Take 6 (Holiday) express the awe and wonder of the birthplace of Jesus Christ. The opening verse describes the stillness in the town, as the stars silently shine above, and yet the everlasting light still shines bright in the dark streets of Bethlehem. This line represents the hope that the birth of Jesus brings to the world. The song goes on to describe how Christ was born of Mary, and all the angels gathered to witness the miracle of his birth. The morning stars sing together to proclaim the holy birth as God's peace is brought to earth.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
We can see Bethlehem lying quietly, a small and humble town
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
The stars shine above the town, as it sleeps in peacefulness and calm
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
Despite the darkness, the light of eternity shines in the streets
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
All the hopes and fears of humankind throughout time have converged in Bethlehem tonight
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
Jesus has been born to Mary, and all above have gathered to witness his birth
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Angels keep watch in amazement and love as mortals sleep unaware
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
The stars in the morning sky herald the arrival of the holy child
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.
Everyone sings praises to God the king, and wishes peace to all people on earth
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Again we see the little town of Bethlehem lying quietly, at rest
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Once more, the silent stars shine above the peaceful town
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
And even though the streets are dark, the everlasting light still shines
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Once more we are reminded that this night in Bethlehem, all the hopes and fears of all people have converged
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Lewis H Redner, Phillip Brooks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind