O Little Town of Bethlehem
The Bands and Choir of The Salvation Army Lyrics
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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 song "O Little Town of Bethlehem" describes the birthplace of Jesus Christ as a peaceful and quiet town, lying still in its deep and dreamless sleep, no different from any ordinary night, yet there is a sacred light shining amidst the darkness. It talks about how Bethlehem is a symbol of hope and fear, as it witnesses the beginning of a new era with the birth of Jesus Christ. The second stanza of the song depicts how the angels were watching over the birth of Christ and, with their holy presence, they proclaim it to the world, singing praises to God the king while praying for peace on earth. The song is a reminder of the rich history and significance of Bethlehem as a spiritual center that symbolizes the hopes and fears of humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
We see you, little Bethlehem, quiet and tranquil in the night.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
The stars pass overhead as you rest peacefully, undisturbed by any noise.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
But even in the darkness, there is a powerful and eternal light shining through the streets.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
All the hopes and fears of humanity throughout the centuries have converged upon you tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
Mary has given birth to Jesus, who is now surrounded by all of the heavenly hosts.
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
As humans slumber, the angels keep a watchful eye filled with amazement and love.
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
The stars of the morning join together in singing praises for the holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.
They sing their praises to God the king and wish for peace to all mankind.
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Once again, we see you, little Bethlehem, sleeping calmly in the stillness of the night.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
And the stars continue to pass overhead, as you rest deeply and without any disturbance.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
But the eternal light still shines brightly through the darkness of the streets.
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
And all the hopes and fears of the world, past and present, come together at this moment in you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEROY ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind