What Child Is This?
The New England Children's Chorus & Orchestra Lyrics
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Who laid to rest
That I now find here sleeping?
Do angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?
And could this be Christ the king
Whose every breath the angels bring?
What child is this
Who is so blessed he changes all tomorrows?
Replacing tears with reborn years
In hearts once dark and hollow
And could this be Christ the king
Whose every breath the angels bring?
Could this be the face of God, this child, the son I once carried?
In the dead of the night
As his life slips away
As he reads by the light
Of a star faraway
Holding on
Holding off
Holding out
Holding in
Could you be this old
And have your life just begin?
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
It begins
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
Tell me how many times can this story be told
After all of these years it should all sound so old
But it somehow rings true in the back of my mind
As I search for a dream that words can no longer define
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
And the time
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
And the time and the years
And the tears and the cost
And the hopes and the dreams
Of each child that is lost
And the whisper of wings
In the cold winter's air
As the snow it drifts down
And visions appear everywhere
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
In the air
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
In the dead of the night
As his life slips away
As he reads by the light
Of a star faraway
Holding on
Holding off
Holding out
Holding in
Could you be this old
And have your life just begin
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
It begins
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
It begins
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
It begins
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
It begins
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
It begins
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
It begins
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
It begins
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
It begins
The lyrics of "What Child Is This?" by The New England Children's Chorus & Orchestra explore the profound mystery and significance of the birth of Christ. The first verse raises the question of the identity of the child, who is found peacefully sleeping. It wonders if angels are aware of the dreams we long for while our hearts are burdened with pain and suffering.
The chorus then contemplates the possibility that this child could be Christ the king, whose every breath is brought by angels. There is a poignant reflection on the face of God in this child, resonating with the singer's personal experience of carrying a child, evoking a sense of connection and awe.
The second verse expresses how this child, blessed and divine, has the power to profoundly transform the future, replacing tears with new beginnings in once dark and empty hearts. It reaffirms the speculation of whether this child truly is Christ, bringing hope and renewal to all.
In the final stanza, the lyrics shift to a more introspective and reflective tone. It describes a scene in the dead of night, as the child's life fades away. The child is reading by the light of a distant star, symbolizing divine guidance and wisdom. The repetition of the phrase "Holding on, Holding off, Holding out, Holding in" suggests a struggle to grasp the profound nature of this moment and the realization that this child's life is just beginning, regardless of age.
The lyrics then explore the timeless nature of the Christmas story, acknowledging its familiarity yet continuing to find truth within it. It touches on the difficulty of putting into words the depth and meaning of this story, as it transcends language and defies definition.
The conclusion brings together the imagery of snow falling and the whispers of angels' wings in the cold winter air, creating a magical and transcendent atmosphere. It further emphasizes the idea that reading by the light of a lost Christmas day signifies a journey of discovery, renewal, and awakening. The repetition and gradual building of the final lines imply a sense of anticipation and expectation, as the reader's journey into the story of Christ's birth begins anew.
Overall, the lyrics of "What Child Is This?" contemplate the profound nature of the birth of Jesus, the transformative power of his presence, and the timeless relevance of the Christmas story. It invites personal reflection and invites listeners to embark on their own journey of discovery and renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
What child is this
Who is this child
Who laid to rest
That is peacefully sleeping
That I now find here sleeping?
That I have discovered sleeping here
Do angels keep the dreams we seek
Do angels protect the dreams we desire
While our hearts lie bleeding?
While our hearts are filled with pain
And could this be Christ the king
And is this possibly the King Christ
Whose every breath the angels bring?
Whose every breath is accompanied by angels
Could this be the face of God, this child, the son I once carried?
Could this be the face of God, this child, the son that I once held
Who is so blessed he changes all tomorrows?
Who is so blessed that he transforms all future days
Replacing tears with reborn years
Substituting tears with renewed years
In hearts once dark and hollow
In hearts that were once empty and dark
In the dead of the night
During the darkest hours of the night
As his life slips away
As his life fades
As he reads by the light
As he reads using the illumination
Of a star faraway
From a distant star
Holding on
Clinging tightly
Holding off
Delaying
Holding out
Persisting
Holding in
Keeping emotions contained
Could you be this old
Could one be this aged
And have your life just begin?
And have your life only starting now
Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
Gathering knowledge in the illumination of a Christmas day that is no longer present
Tell me how many times can this story be told
Inform me of the number of times this story can be narrated
After all of these years it should all sound so old
After so many years, it should sound repetitive
But it somehow rings true in the back of my mind
But it still feels genuine deep in my thoughts
As I search for a dream that words can no longer define
As I seek a dream that can no longer be expressed in words
And the time and the years
And the passing of time and the years
And the tears and the cost
And the tears shed and the price paid
And the hopes and the dreams
And the aspirations and the dreams
Of each child that is lost
Of every child who is gone
And the whisper of wings
And the subtle sound of wings
In the cold winter's air
In the chilly air of winter
As the snow it drifts down
As the snow falls gently
And visions appear everywhere
And visions materialize all around
In the air
Suspended in the air
It begins
It commences
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: . DP, PAUL O'NEILL, ROBERT KINKEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind