Hark the Herald Angels Sing
The South Park Children's Choir Lyrics
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, Glory to the newborn king.
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all ye nations rise.
Join the triumph of the skies.
Hark! The Herald angels sing,
The lyrics of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" are a beautiful ode to the birth of the newborn king, according to the South Park Children's Choir. The opening line, "Hark! The herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king," is a call to attention, an invitation to pay homage to the miraculous event of Christmas. The song goes on to speak of peace on earth and mercy given to sinners, which is an affirmation of the redemptive power of Christmas. Through the chorus, the choir invites the people of all nations to join in the celebration of the birth of the Messiah, in awe of the triumph of the skies that has brought hope to the world.
The use of the word 'hark' in the opening line of the song is an old English word that means 'listen attentively.' The writers of the song, Charles Wesley and Felix Mendelssohn, sought to capture the glory of the angels' proclamation of peace on earth and the birth of Jesus in the melody of the song. The song has since become a staple of Christmas worship, adding to its remarkable cultural relevance.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark! The Herald angels sing
Listen! The heavenly heralds are singing
Glory to the newborn king.
Praise to the recently born ruler
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
Tranquility on the earth and gentle mercies
God and sinners reconciled.
God and those who have transgressed are now in harmony
Joyful all ye nations rise.
All nations rise up in joy
Join the triumph of the skies.
Take part in the victorious celebration of the heavens
Hark! The Herald angels sing,
Listen! The heavenly heralds are singing
Glory to the newborn king.
Praise to the recently born ruler
Writer(s): Greg Prechel, Traditional Public Domain
Contributed by Jack B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.