Over the years my favorite Christmas songs have changed from year to year.
I remember singing a number of songs growing up, including Come on Ring those Bells, Silent Night, Rudolph, etc. etc. But over the last few years, I think I’ve settled in on my all time favorite.
O Holy Night.
If nothing else, because of the amazing (often overlooked) 3rd verse.
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
And because it never gets old – here’s the Studio 60 version of this song, performed by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and a group of musicians from New Orleans…
What’s your favorite Christmas song or lyric?
The Christmas carol that I have come to love is ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ … Longfellow’s lyric is a wonderful account of the yearning for the hope of divine justice that lies deep within all of us. Ultimately Christmas is about the final fulfillment of this hope; Christ has come and will come again.
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Great song! Thanks for the reminder Lee.
Great song! Thanks for the reminder Lee.
Can I add these lyrics to continue the theme? 🙂
In the middle of a forest
There’s a clearing by a stream
Where a mother holds her newborn
And the child begins to dream
And he dreams of hopes unspoken
When the tears of man will cease
And his mother holds him closer
For he is the Prince of peace
Let the bells ring out these tidings
Let it echo across the land
That a king is born in Bethlehem
And his kingdom is at hand
Let the world rejoice together
As it looks upon the stars
Knowing every man’s our brother
And that every child is ours
Trans-Siberian Orchestra The Prince of Peace
Can I add these lyrics to continue the theme? 🙂
In the middle of a forest
There’s a clearing by a stream
Where a mother holds her newborn
And the child begins to dream
And he dreams of hopes unspoken
When the tears of man will cease
And his mother holds him closer
For he is the Prince of peace
Let the bells ring out these tidings
Let it echo across the land
That a king is born in Bethlehem
And his kingdom is at hand
Let the world rejoice together
As it looks upon the stars
Knowing every man’s our brother
And that every child is ours
Trans-Siberian Orchestra The Prince of Peace
The Christmas carol that I have come to love is ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ … Longfellow’s lyric is a wonderful account of the yearning for the hope of divine justice that lies deep within all of us. Ultimately Christmas is about the final fulfillment of this hope; Christ has come and will come again.
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Great song! Thanks for the reminder Lee.
Can I add these lyrics to continue the theme? 🙂
In the middle of a forest
There’s a clearing by a stream
Where a mother holds her newborn
And the child begins to dream
And he dreams of hopes unspoken
When the tears of man will cease
And his mother holds him closer
For he is the Prince of peace
Let the bells ring out these tidings
Let it echo across the land
That a king is born in Bethlehem
And his kingdom is at hand
Let the world rejoice together
As it looks upon the stars
Knowing every man’s our brother
And that every child is ours
Trans-Siberian Orchestra The Prince of Peace