What Child Is This?
The Regency Singers & Orchestra Lyrics


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What child is this
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?
Could this be the face of God, this child, the son I once carried?

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "What Child Is This?" by The Regency Singers & Orchestra explore the deeper meaning of the birth of Jesus and its impact on the world. The song begins by questioning the identity of the child who was laid to rest, highlighting the mystery and significance of his birth. The singer wonders if angels preserve the dreams and desires of humanity while their hearts continue to ache in pain.


The lyrics then delve into the ponderings of the singer, considering whether this child could indeed be Christ the King, the one heralded by angels. The questioning continues as the singer reflects on the face of God, reminiscing about the time he carried the child in his arms. The child is seen as someone who brings blessings and transforms the future, replacing sorrow with rejuvenated years and bringing light to once dark and empty hearts.


As the song progresses, the imagery shifts to the dead of the night, symbolizing a time of uncertainty and loss. The singer contemplates the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life, reading by the light of a distant star. The refrain of "Holding on, holding off, holding out, holding in" expresses the struggle to grasp onto something meaningful and hold onto hope amidst the challenges of life.


The lyrics convey a sense of reflection and searching for meaning in the context of the Christmas story. They evoke a connection between the birth of Jesus and the resilience and longing of humanity, reminding us of the timeless significance of this event.


Line by Line Meaning

What child is this
Who is this child that I see here


Who laid to rest
Who is peacefully sleeping


That I now find here sleeping?
That I have found here in a state of sleep?


Do angels keep the dreams we seek
Do angels protect the dreams we long for


While our hearts lie bleeding?
While our hearts are in pain?


And could this be Christ the king
And is this possibly Jesus, the ruler


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 child be the image of God, the son that I once held?


Who is so blessed he changes all tomorrows?
Who is so fortunate that he transforms all future days?


Replacing tears with reborn years
Replacing sorrow with a fresh start


In hearts once dark and hollow
In hearts that were previously empty and despairing


In the dead of the night
During the darkest hours of the night


As his life slips away
As his existence fades


As he reads by the light
As he reads using the illumination


Of a star faraway
From a distant star


Holding on
Clutching tightly


Holding off
Delaying


Holding out
Persisting


Holding in
Keeping emotions hidden


Could you be this old
Is it possible to be this age


And have your life just begin?
And for your life to only now start?


Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
Reading with the brightness of a forgotten Christmas


It begins
It starts


Tell me how many times can this story be told
Tell me how often can this tale be recounted


After all of these years it should all sound so old
After all this time, it should all sound familiar


But it somehow rings true in the back of my mind
But it still resonates with truth in my thoughts


As I search for a dream that words can no longer define
While I seek a dream that cannot be described with words


And the time and the years
And the passing of time and the many years


And the tears and the cost
And the shedding of tears and the sacrifices made


And the hopes and the dreams
And the aspirations and the desires


Of each child that is lost
Of every child who is gone


And the whisper of wings
And the soft sound of angelic wings


In the cold winter's air
In the chilly atmosphere of winter


As the snow it drifts down
As the snow gently falls


And visions appear everywhere
And visions materialize all around


In the air
In the atmosphere


And the time
And the passage of time


In the air
In the atmosphere


In the dead of the night
During the darkest hours of the night


As his life slips away
As his existence fades


As he reads by the light
As he reads using the illumination


Of a star faraway
From a distant star


Holding on
Clutching tightly


Holding off
Delaying


Holding out
Persisting


Holding in
Keeping emotions hidden


Could you be this old
Is it possible to be this age


And have your life just begin?
And for your life to only now start?


Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
Reading with the brightness of a forgotten Christmas


It begins
It starts


Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
Reading with the brightness of a forgotten Christmas


It begins
It starts


Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
Reading with the brightness of a forgotten Christmas


It begins
It starts


Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
Reading with the brightness of a forgotten Christmas


It begins
It starts


Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
Reading with the brightness of a forgotten Christmas


It begins
It starts


Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
Reading with the brightness of a forgotten Christmas


It begins
It starts


Reading by the light of a lost Christmas day
Reading with the brightness of a forgotten Christmas


It begins
It starts




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
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