Lyrics
Do you hear what I hear?
Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea
Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king
Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Said the king to the people everywhere
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere
Listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Do You Hear What I Hear? retells the Nativity through a chain of witnesses: wind, lamb, shepherd boy, king, and finally people everywhere. Each exchange expands the news, beginning with a star in the night and ending with a call to prayer, peace, goodness, and light. The repeated questions create a sense of discovery as creation and human voices pass the message from one to another.
The song draws recognizable elements from the Gospel accounts without reproducing a single scene exactly. Luke records shepherds hearing the angelic announcement of Christ’s birth and its promise of peace. Matthew describes the star and the gifts brought to the child. By combining these details, the lyric presents the Child as news meant to travel beyond the stable to rulers and nations. Its final emphasis is not on spectacle but on the hope associated with Christ: peace among people and light entering a darkened world.
Related Scripture
- Luke 2:8-14 Angels announce Christ’s birth to shepherds and proclaim peace.
- Matthew 2:1-11 The visitors follow a star to the child and present costly gifts.
- Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah speaks of a promised child identified with peace and righteous rule.