Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ~ Isaiah 7:14
Christmas Song Lyrics Compiled by Charles P. Scott
O Holy Night
Lyrics
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees!
Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night divine!
O night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming.
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming.
Now come the wise men from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger.
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need.
Our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
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!
About This Song
The story of “O Holy Night” is as dramatic as when the popular Christmas carol crescendos to the verse that rings out, “Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born!”
Scandal, politics and ground-breaking moments power the history of the popular Christmas song. While sorting out fact from fiction may leave a narrative less spectacular than legend, the popularity of “O Holy Night” has never waned across the centuries.
In 1843 or 1847 in the small French town of Roquemaure, a local poet named Placide Cappeau was asked by the priest to write a Christmas poem to commemorate the renovation of the church organ. After composing the poem, Cappeau asked Adolphe Adam, a popular composer, to set the lines to music. History claims the song titled “Cantique de Noel” debuted in 1847 at a midnight mass and became a favorite among French congregations.
