In this
last Friday before Christmas, we here at The Jade Sphinx continue to look at
some of our favorite Christmas carols.
Near the top of the list is O Little Town of Bethlehem, which has, we
think, a particular sweetness and charm.
There are many, many excellent recordings, but by far our favorite is
that of Burl Ives, which can be
heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl0uReXPb6U.
Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) was an American
Episcopal bishop, famous for his preaching and liberal views. On Christmas Eve, 1865, he rode from
Jerusalem to Bethlehem and is said to have viewed the town from the field where
shepherds received the news of Christ’s birth from the angels. Three years later, he wrote the words of O Little Town of Bethlehem; his
organist, Lewis Redner (with whom he
had collaborated when writing the carol Everywhere,
Everywhere, Christmas Tonight, wrote the music, which he said came to him in a dream with an angel strain. It was first performed by the children of their
Sunday school.
In
England, Redner’s tune has been overtaken in popularity by a 1906 Ralph Vaughan Williams version of the
folk tune The Ploughboy’s Dream, or Forest Green. Other tunes by Henry Walford Davies and Joseph
Barnby have attracted less interest.
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him
still,
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
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