for KING & COUNTRY - Angels We Have Heard On High Lyrics
Lyrics
Sing!
Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oria
In excelsis De-eo
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o'er the plains
And the mountains in reply
Echoin' their joyous strains, yeah
Shepherds why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your Heav'nly song? Yeah
Sing!
Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oria
In excelsis Deo
Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oria
(Gloria)
In excelsis De-eo
One, two, three!
Sing!
See Him in a manger lay
Whom the choir of angels praise
Mary, Joseph lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise
Sing!
Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oria
In excelsis Deo
(Everybody!)
Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oria
(Gloria)
In excelsis De-eo
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
(The newborn, newborn King)
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
(The newborn, newborn King)
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Video
for KING + COUNTRY - Angels We Have Heard On High- Animated Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on October 27, 2017, as part of their dynamic album *Christmas LIVE from Phoenix*, for KING & COUNTRY’s rendition of "Angels We Have Heard On High" transcends a mere musical performance, delivering a powerful declaration of the Christmas narrative. This live recording captures an infectious energy that transforms the beloved carol into a vibrant anthem of worship, meticulously focusing on the profound message embedded in its centuries-old verses. The song invites everyone into the wonder and awe of the Nativity, compelling a renewed appreciation for the divine intervention that reshaped human history.
The opening lines, "Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o'er the plains," immediately transport the listener to the fields outside Bethlehem. This imagery directly echoes the miraculous event recorded in Luke 2:13-14, where a multitude of the heavenly host suddenly appeared to the shepherds, praising God and proclaiming, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." The subsequent response of "the mountains in reply, Echoin' their joyous strains," illustrates a cosmic symphony, suggesting that the entirety of creation resonated with the news of the Savior's arrival. This isn't just a human celebration; it's a universe-wide acknowledgment of God's redemptive plan unfolding.
The carol then poses a direct question to the shepherds: "Shepherds why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be Which inspire your Heav'nly song?" This moment allows for a reflection on the sheer magnitude of the announcement. The shepherds, humble and often overlooked, were chosen to receive the most significant news in human history. Luke 2:10-12 details the angel's message to them: "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." The "gladsome tidings" refer to the birth of Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, signifying hope, salvation, and the dawn of a new covenant for all humanity.
The majestic chorus, with its prolonged "Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oria in excelsis Deo," serves as the spiritual core of the song. This Latin phrase translates to "Glory to God in the highest," directly echoing the angels' praise. It is a universal cry of adoration, a recognition that the birth of Jesus is fundamentally about bringing ultimate glory to God. This glory is not merely a transient feeling but a declaration of God's holiness, His power, and His boundless love manifested in sending His Son. The repetition underscores the eternal truth that Jesus's birth is the ultimate expression of God's sovereignty and grace, a truth worthy of unending praise, as articulated in passages like Revelation 5:12, where every creature declares worthy is the Lamb.
The next verse urges us to "See Him in a manger lay, Whom the choir of angels praise," grounding the divine truth in the tangible reality of the Incarnation. The Messiah, the King of Kings, did not arrive in earthly splendor but in profound humility, a concept central to Philippians 2:6-8, describing Christ's self-emptying to become human. The song then invites a communal act of worship: "Mary, Joseph lend your aid, While our hearts in love we raise." This signifies not just passive observation but an active participation in the adoration, aligning our hearts with the holy family and the heavenly host in celebrating this divine gift. It is an invitation to personally acknowledge and respond to the truth of Jesus's advent.
The powerful and repeated call to "Come adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King," acts as a profound summons to worship. This imagery directly recalls the wise men who, upon finding Jesus, "bowed down and worshiped him" (Matthew 2:11). It is a humble, reverent posture of surrender and recognition of Jesus's sovereignty, not just as a baby but as the King. This phrase is repeated numerous times, amplifying its urgency and universality. It is a direct appeal for a personal, transformative encounter with the Savior. This King, though born in humble circumstances, is indeed the "newborn King" who will reign forever, as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." The song’s culmination is an invitation to embrace this reality, to kneel not in fear but in joyful adoration, recognizing that in this child lies the hope and salvation for all humankind.