O Holy Night | Santa's Songs | Nursery Rhymes Songs for Kids

O Holy Night

"O Holy Night" (French: "Minuit,
chretiens", "Minuit, chretien" in original edition,  or "Cantique
de Noël") is a well-known Christmas
carol composed by Adolphe
Adam in 1847 to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight,
Christians) written by wine merchant and poet Placide
Cappeau (1808–1877). In both the French original and the
English version of the carol, as well as in many other languages, the text reflects on
the birth of Jesus and on
humanity's redemption.

In Roquemaure at the end of 1843, the church organ had recently been
renovated. To celebrate the event, the parish priest persuaded wine merchant
and poet Placide
Cappeau, a native of the town, to write a Christmas poem. Soon
afterwards that same year, Adolphe
Adam composed the music. The song was premiered in
Roquemaure in 1847 by the opera singer Emily Laurey. Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight, editor of Dwight's Journal of Music, translated the song into English lyrics in 1855.

Lyrics

Placide Cappeau's Cantique de Noël	Literal English translation	John Sullivan Dwight's version
Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle, Où l'Homme Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous Pour effacer la tache originelle Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux. Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur. Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance. Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur, Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur! De notre foi que la lumière ardente Nous guide tous au berceau de l'Enfant, Comme autrefois une étoile brillante Y conduisit les chefs de l'Orient. Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche: Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur, A votre orgueil, c'est de là que Dieu prêche. Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur. Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur. Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave: La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert. Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave, L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer. Qui lui dira notre reconnaissance, C'est pour nous tous qu'il naît, qu'il souffre et meurt. Peuple debout! Chante ta délivrance, Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur, Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur!	Midnight, Christians, is the solemn hour, When God as man descended unto us To erase the stain of original sin And to end the wrath of His Father. The entire world thrills with hope On this night that gives it a Saviour. People, kneel down, await your deliverance. Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer, Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer! May the ardent light of our Faith Guide us all to the cradle of the infant, As in ancient times a brilliant star Guided the Oriental kings there. The King of Kings was born in a humble manger; O mighty ones of today, proud of your greatness, It is to your pride that God preaches. Bow your heads before the Redeemer! Bow your heads before the Redeemer! The Redeemer has broken every bond: The Earth is free, and Heaven is open. He sees a brother where there was only a slave, Love unites those that iron had chained. Who will tell Him of our gratitude, For all of us He is born, He suffers and dies. People, stand up! Sing of your deliverance, Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer, Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer!	O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour'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! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O 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. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from the Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friend. He knows our need, to our weaknesses 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 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.

 

Recordings

The
song has been recorded by numerous well-known popular-music, classical-music,
and religious-music singers. Some milestones include:

·        
1960: Nat King Cole, on
his album The Magic of Christmas

·        
1968: Mahalia Jackson, on her album Christmas
With Mahalia

·        
1968: Mireille Mathieu, with her father Roger
Mathieu, on her Chante Noël album (re-released as a CD in 2004
with three additional songs)

·        
1992: Bill Pinkney,
accompanied by The Original Drifters,
for the Wisepack White Christmas Compilation CD

·        
David Foster arranged
and produced the song successfully for several different artists, including:

·        
1993/1999: Michael Crawford, on Foster's
best-selling The Christmas Album (No. 48 Billboard Top
200), and on the corresponding TV special The David Foster Christmas
Album; as well as Crawford's own later A Christmas Album (No.
98 Billboard Top 200)

·        
1999: Trans-Siberian
Orchestra's platinum-selling DVD The Ghosts of
Christmas Eve

·        
2002: Josh Groban (No.
1 Billboard Adult Contemporary)

·        
2004: Celine Dion,
featured on her 5× platinum album These Are Special
Times

·        
2009: Andrea Bocelli,
for his double platinum My Christmas album

·        
1994: Mariah Carey's
rendition, featured on her first studio holiday album, Merry
Christmas, which sold 15 million copies worldwide, charted at
No. 8 on the Billboard Holiday
Digital Song Sales chart It was rereleased as a single in 1996 & 2000.

·        
1996: John Berry's
version charted at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart.

·        
1997: Martina McBride's rendering charted at No. 74
on Hot Country Songs chart (also No. 67 in 1998, No. 49 in 1999, No. 57 in
2000, and No. 41 in 2001)

·        
2006: Josh Gracin's
version charted at No. 59 on Hot Country Songs chart