Bing Crosby - O Holy Night Lyrics
Lyrics
O holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night
Of the dear Saviour'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 an' 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 far distant lands
The King of Kings is born, the world rejoices
In all our trials born to be our friend
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
O holy night
O night divine
Video
O Holy Night (Remastered 2006)
Meaning & Inspiration
Bing Crosby's rendition of "O Holy Night," specifically the "Remastered 2006" version released on November 6, 2014, offers a profound and deeply moving interpretation of one of Christmas's most cherished hymns. At its core, the song celebrates the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ and the transformative impact of His arrival on a world yearning for redemption. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of humanity's spiritual state prior to Christ's coming, describing a world "in sin and error pining." This resonates powerfully with Isaiah 9:2, which speaks of people walking in darkness who have seen a great light. The "dear Saviour's birth" is presented not merely as an event, but as the dawn of hope, a "thrill" that causes the "weary world rejoices." This joy is directly linked to the promise of a "new and glorious morn," echoing the prophetic words of Revelation 21:5, "Behold, I make all things new." The call to "fall on your knees" and "hear the angel voices" directly references the celestial announcement to the shepherds, as recorded in Luke 2:10-14, where an angel of the Lord appeared, proclaiming "good tidings of great joy." Crosby's performance imbues these lines with a reverence that invites listeners to share in that same awe and submission before the divine. The subsequent verses, speaking of being "led by the light of faith serenely beaming" and standing "with glowing hearts, by His cradle we stand," speak to the personal journey of faith ignited by Christ's birth. The image of the Wise Men, "led by the light of a star sweetly gleaming," directly recalls Matthew 2:1-11, highlighting the global significance of this birth and the wise pursuit of the "King of Kings." The declaration that Christ was "born to be our friend" is a beautiful articulation of Jesus' role as Emmanuel, God with us, who came to bridge the gap between humanity and the divine, offering companionship and salvation through His trials and eventual sacrifice, as foretold in Isaiah 7:14 and fulfilled in His earthly ministry. Crosby's rendition, with its comforting and steady delivery, magnifies the enduring message of hope, peace, and divine love that "O Holy Night" continues to proclaim.