The Boys Choir of Harlem (also known as the Harlem Boys Choir) is a choir l… Read Full Bio ↴The Boys Choir of Harlem (also known as the Harlem Boys Choir) is a choir located in Harlem, New York City, USA. Founded in 1968 by Dr. Walter Turnbull. The choir is internationally known. Performers receive rigorous voice training and perform many types of music, including classical, hip-hop, r&b, jazz, and gospel music. Over 150,000 people see the choir live each year across the United States as well as in Canada, France, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The BCH were also the recipients of a Grammy. Like its more famous Austrian cousin, the Vienna Boys Choir, the Boys Choir of Harlem adheres strictly to a policy of including those young men who have not reached puberty. The range of the music performed is such that it requires natural boy sopranos whose voices have not yet changed.

The choir has performed on soundtracks for films including Glory , Malcolm Xand many Spike Lee films and has performed for Presidents at the White House, and dignitaries at the United Nations. It also performed live for the visits of Nelson Mandela and Pope John Paul II. It performed on Chicago rapper Kanye West's song, Two Words, and Jesus Walks. The choir also performed America the Beautiful to open Wrestlemania XX. Their glorious voices have also appeared on albums with Kathleen Battle, Luciano Pavarotti, Quincy Jones and many more.

I wonder as I wander
The Boys Choir of Harlem Lyrics

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I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus, the Savior, had come for to die
For poor onry people, like you and like i.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

When Mary birthed Jesus, twas in a cows stall
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all,
But high in gods heaven a stars light did fall,

And the promise of ages, it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing
Or all of gods angels in heaven for to sing
He surely could have it, for he was the king!

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus, the savior, had come for to die

For poor onry people like you and like i.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

Overall Meaning

The Boys Choir of Harlem's "I Wonder as I Wander" is a Christmas hymn that focuses on the story of Jesus's birth and his sacrifice for humanity. The song has a melancholic feel to it, and the lyrics express a sense of wonder and awe as the singer contemplates the significance of Christ's birth and death.

The first verse of the song captures the sense of humility and awe at the heart of the Christian message. The singer marvels at the fact that Jesus, the Savior, would come to Earth and die for the sake of poor and ordinary people like themselves. The image of wandering under the sky suggests a feeling of being lost or alone, but also a sense of wonder and openness to the mystery of the divine.

The second verse of the song describes the humble circumstances of Jesus's birth, with Mary giving birth in a cow's stall and wise men, farmers, and shepherds gathered around. The star in the sky that signals his birth is mentioned, recalling the biblical story of the Magi following a star to find the newborn King. The promise of ages refers to the prophecies in the Old Testament that predicted the coming of a Savior who would redeem humanity from sin.

The third and final verse of the song speaks to the power and sovereignty of Christ as the King of Heaven. If he wanted anything, from a star in the sky to a bird on the wing or an entire choir of angels, he could have it. However, instead he chose to humble himself and be born among the poor and lowly. The final lines of the song return to the sense of wonder and contemplation of the first verse, as the singer reflects on the meaning of Christ's life and sacrifice.

Line by Line Meaning

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
I contemplate and ponder while walking beneath the open air above me

How Jesus, the Savior, had come for to die
The reason for Jesus, the Savior, coming to Earth was to sacrifice himself by dying

For poor onry people, like you and like i.
Jesus came for impoverished individuals, such as yourself and I.

When Mary birthed Jesus, twas in a cows stall
Jesus was born in a stable with a cow present during Mary's childbirth

With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
Wise men, farmers, and shepherds came to see Jesus after his birth alongside everyone else who was there

But high in gods heaven a stars light did fall
A bright light from the heavens above came down and shined bright

And the promise of ages, it then did recall.
This light reminded everyone of a promise from a long time ago

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
If Jesus desired anything whatsoever

A star in the sky or a bird on the wing
Such as a star in the sky or a bird flying through the air

Or all of gods angels in heaven for to sing
Even all of God's angels singing in heaven

He surely could have it, for he was the king!
Jesus, who was a king, could have had any of these things if he wished

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
Once again, I think deeply and ponder while strolling underneath the sky above

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TRADITIONAL, ROBERT MATHES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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