Mariah Carey - Silent Night Lyrics
Lyrics
Silent night
Holy night
All is calm
All is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night
Holy night
Son of God
Oh love's pure light
Radiant beams from
Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Oh Jesus Lord at Thy birth...
Sleep
Sleep
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Peace
Sleep
Sleep
Sleep in heavenly peace
Video
Mariah Carey - Silent Night (Official Audio)
Meaning & Inspiration
Mariah Carey's 2015 rendition of "Silent Night" offers a deeply resonant interpretation of this timeless carol, focusing on the profound spiritual essence of the Nativity story. This recording, rather than reinventing the beloved melody, serves as a vessel for the song's enduring message of peace and divine grace, aligning perfectly with the scriptural accounts of Jesus' birth. The lyrics, at their core, paint a vivid picture of the miraculous event as described in the Gospels, particularly Luke 2:1-20, where a holy hush descends upon Bethlehem as the Savior is born. The declaration of "All is calm, All is bright" echoes the supernatural tranquility that must have permeated the humble stable, a divine calm that transcends earthly turmoil. The imagery of "yon virgin Mother and Child" and the "holy infant so tender and mild" directly calls to mind the tender portrait of Mary cradling her newborn son, swaddled and laid in a manger, as foretold by prophets and witnessed by shepherds. This sense of gentleness and peace is further amplified by the repeated phrase, "Sleep in heavenly peace," a comforting invitation to reflect on the ultimate peace offered to humanity through Christ's arrival. The second verse shifts focus to the divine nature of the event, referring to Jesus as the "Son of God" and highlighting "love's pure light" radiating from His face. This evokes the profound truth of Immanuel, God with us, as prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 and understood in the context of Christ’s divine identity. The "redeeming grace" that dawns with His birth is the very promise of salvation, fulfilling the Old Testament anticipation of a Messiah who would bring reconciliation between God and humankind, as the Apostle John writes, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Carey's vocal delivery, while expressive, remains subordinate to the sacred narrative, allowing the words to convey their full spiritual weight. The extended repetition of "Sleep in heavenly peace" at the conclusion serves as a powerful meditative closing, leaving the listener with a profound sense of the lasting peace and hope that the birth of Jesus brought to the world, a peace that the Apostle Paul would later describe as surpassing all understanding (Philippians 4:7). This version of "Silent Night" is not merely a song but an invitation to contemplate the central mystery of Christian faith – the incarnation of God – and the enduring gift of peace it represents.