Silent Night Holy Night
The Manhattan Transfer Lyrics


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Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, Holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glory streams from Heaven afar
Heavenly host, sing alleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace




Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

Overall Meaning

The Manhattan Transfer's rendition of Silent Night Holy Night captures the essence of the traditional hymn, bringing the timeless lyrics to life. The song starts with the soothing and comforting line, "Silent night, Holy night," heightening the listeners' anticipation for the arrival of something miraculous. The next line "All is calm, all is bright," further cements the idea of peace and tranquility which is brought about by the birth of Jesus Christ. The song then transitions to describing the scene of Jesus' birth with the lyrics, "Round yon virgin mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild," creating a serene image of the Holy family. The use of "yon" instead of the contemporary "your" adds a touch of old-world charm to the lyrics.


The hymn takes a more dramatic turn with the lyrics, "Shepherds quake at the sight, Glory streams from heaven afar, Heavenly host sing alleluia," and brings in the religious element. The joyful and harmonizing sound of the heavenly host singing "alleluia" adds a mystical dimension to the song. The climax of the song is reached with the declaration of the birth of Jesus Christ, "Christ the Savior is born, Jesus, Lord at thy birth," conveying the message of the salvation of humankind. The lyrics, "Son of God, love's pure light, Radiant beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace," beautifully describe Jesus Christ as the divine light, and the dawn of redemption to a world that is in darkness.


Overall, the Manhattan Transfer's Silent Night Holy Night is a heartwarming and soul-stirring rendition of the traditional hymn, with lyrics that are both captivating and profound.


Line by Line Meaning

Silent night, Holy night
The night is still and calm, it is holy because it marks the birth of Jesus Christ.


All is calm, all is bright
Everything is peaceful and quiet, there's a sense of serenity around.


Round yon virgin mother and child
A young virgin woman is with her newborn baby, very close and intimate.


Holy infant so tender and mild
The newborn baby is innocent, sweet and gentle.


Sleep in heavenly peace
The baby sleeps in a peaceful and safe environment, nurtured by the divine presence.


Shepherds quake at the sight
The shepherds are overwhelmed and tremble in fear from the sight of angels announcing the birth of the Messiah.


Glory streams from Heaven afar
A divine light illuminates the dark sky, signaling that something is happening on earth.


Heavenly host, sing alleluia
Angelic beings sing songs of praise to God in complete joy and awe.


Christ the Savior is born
A long-awaited prophecy is fulfilled, the Messiah has finally arrived on earth.


Son of God, love's pure light
Jesus is the embodiment of God's love, embodying the perfect example of love and light.


Radiant beams from thy holy face
The light of Jesus emanates from his face, conveying his divine nature.


With the dawn of redeeming grace
The new day symbolizes the start of a new era where humanity has received salvation and forgiveness from their sins.


Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus is recognized as the ruler, the master, and the savior from his very birth.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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