The Perrys - We Need A Silent Night - 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
In these very noisy days
We need reminding
Of shepherds and the stars
And a King who came so far
To bring salvation
To a world that was in need
And so once more
I'm praying, Lord
Silent night, come to me
Calm my heart with heaven's peace
Let it be as it was then
We need a silent night again
Silent night, come to me
Calm my heart with heaven's peace
Let it be as it was then
We need a silent night again
We need a silent night again
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Jesus Lord at Thy birth
Video
We Need a Silent Night / Silent Night
Meaning & Inspiration
The Perrys gifted us with "We Need A Silent Night / Silent Night" on October 19, 2017, a poignant and timely addition to their renowned discography that beautifully marries tradition with a pressing contemporary spiritual longing. This song isn't merely a festive carol; it's a profound reflection on the overwhelming pace and noise of modern existence, articulating a deep-seated desire for the original peace offered by Christ's birth. It functions as a prayer, a yearning for the spiritual stillness that marked the advent of our Savior, a silence desperately sought in our clamorous world.
The genius of this composition lies in its weaving of the timeless "Silent Night" with an urgent, modern plea. It opens with the familiar, hallowed lines of the traditional carol, painting a scene of serene calm surrounding the birth of the "Holy Infant so tender and mild," sleeping in "heavenly peace." This sets an immediate spiritual anchor, reminding us of the foundational event of our faith as described in Luke 2:6-7, where Jesus was born in humble quietude. This initial tranquility serves as a stark contrast to the subsequent verses, highlighting the chasm between that sacred moment and our present reality. The song effectively uses this established imagery of peace to underscore what has been lost or overshadowed in our daily lives.
Then, the song transitions into its powerful, original message, confronting the "very noisy days" we navigate. It eloquently expresses a collective need for "reminding of shepherds and the stars," a call back to the simple, profound truths of that first Christmas night. The Perrys articulate the spiritual fog that can obscure our vision, making us forget the magnitude of "a King who came so far to bring salvation to a world that was in need." This speaks directly to the incarnation, the incredible journey of God becoming flesh as depicted in Philippians 2:6-8, emptying Himself to take on human form for our redemption. The noise of life often distracts us from this central truth—that salvation came not with fanfare and earthly power, but in a humble, silent manger, offering forgiveness for sins, as Matthew 1:21 proclaims. The song becomes a prayer, an earnest plea to reconnect with this divine narrative, to recall the miraculous intervention of God in human history that brought forth the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
The chorus, "Silent night, come to me, calm my heart with heaven's peace," is the song's emotional core, a deeply personal and universal cry. It's a prayer for inner quiet amidst external chaos, an invocation of the peace that Christ promised to His followers, distinct from the world's understanding (John 14:27). The yearning for things to be "as it was then" signifies a longing for an undivided heart, free from distraction, fully focused on the presence of God. This echoes the biblical admonition in Colossians 3:15 to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." The repeated declaration, "We need a silent night again," resonates not just as a seasonal wish but as an enduring spiritual requirement, a continuous call to allow God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), to guard our hearts and minds.
The song concludes by returning to the original carol's lines, reinforcing the divine nature of Christ as the "Son of God, love's pure light." This final traditional segment ties the contemporary longing back to its ultimate source: Jesus, who is the "light of the world" (John 8:12), bringing "radiant beams from Thy holy face" and the "dawn of redeeming grace." This powerful connection underscores that the "silent night" we seek is not just an absence of sound, but the active, peaceful presence of Jesus Christ Himself. It’s a powerful reminder that the grace that dawned with His birth is available to us today, offering peace and redemption in our noisy, often turbulent lives (Titus 2:11). "We Need A Silent Night / Silent Night" is thus an inspiring message that encourages us to carve out moments of spiritual stillness, allowing the profound and quiet truth of Christ's coming to once again calm our hearts and direct our focus toward the source of true and lasting peace.