Gaither Vocal Band - The Night Before Easter Lyrics
Lyrics
The night was so different from all the rest,
and a silence covers the earth.
The stars have no glimmer,
the moon tries to hide for in death lies the man of their birth.
In a room filled with sorrow,
a mother cries for Jesus,
her Son now is gone.
Her child sent from Heaven was taken away,
heartbroken she feels all alone.
At the feet of His mother,
a little boy cries, saying "momma I don't under understand"
I remember the look of love in His eyes,
that I saw when He touched my hand.
The King of all ages, the Giver of life,
for a moment lies silent & still,
a power from Heaven comes breaking through
the night & death must bow to His will.
Then a stone moves,
the earth shakes & birds starts singing,
the sun shines, the earth warms.
For new life its bringing, and the little boy stops crying,
a mother is smiling, for death could not hold their King.
Then a stone moves,
the earth shakes & birds starts singing,
the sun shines, the earth warms.
For new life its bringing & the little boy stops crying,
a mother is smiling, for death could not hold their King.
For death could not hold their King
Video
Gaither Vocal Band - The Night Before Easter (Live)
Meaning & Inspiration
The Gaither Vocal Band presented a profound musical meditation on the Easter narrative with "The Night Before Easter," released on October 14, 2014, as part of their album *Sometimes It Takes A Mountain*. This powerful composition delves deeply into the somber anticipation and ultimate triumph surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ, painting a vivid picture of humanity’s despair and God’s unparalleled victory. The song immediately transports us to the aftermath of the crucifixion, where an unsettling quiet blankets the earth. The opening lines describe a night "so different from all the rest," a world seemingly holding its breath, with "stars hav[ing] no glimmer" and the "moon tr[ying] to hide." This evocative imagery perfectly captures the cosmic grief spoken of in Scripture, where darkness covered the land from the sixth to the ninth hour as Jesus died (Matthew 27:45, Luke 23:44-45), suggesting that even creation itself mourned the passing of its Creator.
The narrative then shifts to a deeply personal level, portraying the profound sorrow of Mary, Jesus’ mother, as she grapples with the loss of her Son. The lyric "In a room filled with sorrow, a mother cries for Jesus, her Son now is gone" resonates with Simeon’s prophecy to Mary that a "sword will pierce through your own soul also" (Luke 2:35), a harrowing fulfillment realized at the foot of the cross (John 19:25-27). This intimate depiction of Mary’s grief is further amplified by the presence of a "little boy crying," who expresses his innocent confusion, recalling the "look of love in His eyes" when Jesus "touched my hand." This character provides a universal lens, representing every person who has encountered Christ's love and now struggles to comprehend the depths of divine sacrifice, mirroring the disciples’ initial bewilderment and fear following Jesus' death. It underscores the human inability to fully grasp the divine plan without the light of revelation.
The song reaches its theological zenith with the declaration that "The King of all ages, the Giver of life, for a moment lies silent & still." This line masterfully encapsulates the paradox of the cross: the very source of all life, by whom "all things were created" (Colossians 1:16), willingly submitted to death. This temporary stillness, however, is not an end but a prelude. The turning point arrives with immense spiritual force: "a power from Heaven comes breaking through the night & death must bow to His will." This is the very essence of Easter—the moment God raised Jesus from the dead, demonstrating His absolute dominion over sin and death (Acts 2:24, Romans 6:9, Revelation 1:18). It is the divine intervention that shatters the bonds of the grave and reasserts the sovereignty of the triune God.
The final verses erupt with glorious imagery that perfectly mirrors the dramatic spiritual shift. "Then a stone moves, the earth shakes & birds starts singing, the sun shines, the earth warms. For new life its bringing." This vivid transformation directly references the earthquake that occurred when an angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the tomb (Matthew 28:2). The sudden warmth, sunshine, and songs of birds symbolize not only a physical renewal but a spiritual rebirth, reflecting the new creation that is inaugurated through Christ's resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:19-21). The profound despair gives way to unbridled joy as "the little boy stops crying, a mother is smiling." Mary’s sorrow turns to triumphant rejoicing, fulfilling Jesus' promise that "your sorrow will turn into joy" (John 16:20). The repeated, resounding affirmation, "For death could not hold their King," serves as the ultimate proclamation of victory. This truth, central to Christian faith, confirms that Christ "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10), offering eternal hope and freedom from sin’s dominion to all who believe (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). "The Night Before Easter" is far more than a song; it is a profound journey through sorrow to soaring hope, a testament to the unchanging power of God's love and the foundational truth that the grave could not, and cannot, contain our King.