Lyrics
Glo-glo-glo-glo-ria
Yeah, ooh, oh, ooh oh, yeah
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plain
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Glo-glo-glo-glo-ria
In excelsis Deo
Ooh, no, yeah, yeah
Shepards, why this jubilee
Why your joyous song prolong
What the gladsome tidings be, ohh
That inspire your heav'nly, heav'nly song, oh
Glo-glo-glo-glo-ria
In excelsis Deo
Oh oh oh, oh yeah
Oh, come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing, oh
Come adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, our newborn King
Glo-glo-glo-glo-ria
In excelsis Deo
Oh yeah
(Eric Dawkins & Christina Aguilera)
On the day, that Christ was born
The angels sang such a heavenly song
In excelsis Deo, ohh
Angels we have heard on high
Angels we have heard on high
Angels we have heard on high
Angels we have heard on high
In excelsis Deo
In excelsis Deo
In excelsis Deo
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
The lyric presents the Nativity as an event announced by angelic praise and received with wonder. It moves from angels singing over the plains to shepherds asking about the celebration, then directs attention toward Bethlehem, where Christ is adored as the newborn King. The recurring Latin refrain, Gloria in excelsis Deo, keeps glory to God at the center of the song.
These scenes closely follow Luke 2:8-16. The heavenly song corresponds especially to the multitude praising God in Luke 2:13-14, while the invitation to Bethlehem reflects the shepherds going to find Mary, Joseph, and the child in Luke 2:15-16. Repetition gives the announcement a communal, celebratory character without shifting attention away from Christ. Joy, proclamation, and kneeling adoration combine to portray the birth of Jesus as good news worthy of both heavenly praise and human worship.
Related Scripture
- Luke 2:13-14 A multitude of angels praises God at the birth of Jesus.
- Luke 2:15-16 The shepherds go to Bethlehem and find the newborn Christ.