O Holy Night

In the carol, the singer recalls the birth of .

RECORDINGS

The carol has been recorded by various artists, including Enrico Caruso ("Minuit, chrétiens"), Jussi Björling ("O helga natt"), Plácido Domingo , Rosemary Clooney and George Michael (duet), Jose Feliciano , Luciano Pavarotti , Whitney Houston , Céline Dion , Jon Anderson , Nana Mouskouri , Jim Nabors , Charlotte Church , Ella Fitzgerald , Lonestar , Avril Lavigne , Aled Jones , Linda Eder , Jewel , Glenn Medeiros , Martina McBride , Clay Aiken , Jessica Simpson , Josh Groban , Michael Crawford , Il Divo , Smoking Popes , Dream Theater and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (instrumental). One of its most famous recordings is by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir .

"O Holy Night" was also sung by lead character Eric Cartman on a Christmas-themed episode of the animated series '' South Park ''. The sequence became so popular among fans that this recording is often played on radio stations during the Christmas season.

Mariah Carey co-produced and co-arranged her own cover of "O Holy Night" with Walter Afanasieff for her fifth album, '' Merry Christmas '' (1994). It was released as the album's fifth Single in 1996 (see 1996 In Music ), but was a radio Airplay -only release. Carey re-released the song with new live vocals in 2000 (see 2000 In Music ), and a Sanaa Hamri -directed video created for this version of the song shows Carey singing with a church choir.

LYRICS

Version 1

Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till he appear'd 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!''
::''Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;''
::''Oh night divine, Oh night Divine.''

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

::''He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,''
::''Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!''
::''Behold your King, Behold your King.''

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

::''Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,''
::''His power and glory evermore proclaim.''
::''His power and glory evermore proclaim.''

Version 2

O! Holy night! The stars are brightly shining;

It is the Eve of our dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error, longing

For His appearance, then the Spirit 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, O holy night, O night divine!''
::''O night, O holy 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,

And come now, Shepherds, from your quiet flocks.

The Son of God lay thus w'thin lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our Lord.

::''He knows our need, our weakness never lasting,''
::''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.

Long live His truth, and may it last forever,

For in His name all discordant noise 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!''

Note that the second and third Chorus es are often replaced with a refrain of the first.

TRIVIA

The highest note, near the end of the song, is used to light the Rich's Great Tree in Atlanta each Thanksgiving night.

MEDIA

EXTERNAL LINKS

The Hymns and Carols of Christmas – the history of "O Holy Night"

Easybyte – easy piano music for "O Holy Night"

Information About

O Holy Night