(Franz Gruber - Joseph Mohr)
Yes, he was born in an obscure village
The son of a simple pleasant woman
He grew up in another small town
And worked with his father in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty
And then for three years he was
What we would call a traveling preacher
He never wrote a book, he never held political office
The places he did go, he usually walked
He never did any of the things
That one usually associates with greatness
He had no credentials but himself
When he was only thirty three
The tide of public opinion turned against him
Some of his friends deserted him
One denied him, one even betrayed him
And turned him over to his enemies
He went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While he was dying his executioners gambled
For his only possession, His robe, his purple robe
When he was dead he was taken from the cross
And laid in a borrowed grave
Provided through the compassion of a friend
Nineteen wide centuries have since come and gone
And today this man is the centerpiece of the human race
The leader in the column of mankinds progress
I think that I am well within the mark when I say
All the armies that ever marched
All the navies that ever sailed the seven seas
All the legislative bodies that ever met
All the kings and rulers that have ever rigned all put together
Have not effected the life of man on this earth
As much as that one solitare life.
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round young virgin
Mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace...
Yes, he was born in an obscure village
The son of a simple pleasant woman
He grew up in another small town
And worked with his father in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty
And then for three years he was
What we would call a traveling preacher
He never wrote a book, he never held political office
The places he did go, he usually walked
He never did any of the things
That one usually associates with greatness
He had no credentials but himself
When he was only thirty three
The tide of public opinion turned against him
Some of his friends deserted him
One denied him, one even betrayed him
And turned him over to his enemies
He went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While he was dying his executioners gambled
For his only possession, His robe, his purple robe
When he was dead he was taken from the cross
And laid in a borrowed grave
Provided through the compassion of a friend
Nineteen wide centuries have since come and gone
And today this man is the centerpiece of the human race
The leader in the column of mankinds progress
I think that I am well within the mark when I say
All the armies that ever marched
All the navies that ever sailed the seven seas
All the legislative bodies that ever met
All the kings and rulers that have ever rigned all put together
Have not effected the life of man on this earth
As much as that one solitare life.
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round young virgin
Mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace...
song info:
Verified yes
Language
GenreChristian
Rank−
Duration00:02:57
Charts
Copyright ©
Writer
Lyrics licensed byLyricFind
AddedOctober 31st, 2004
Last updatedMarch 7th, 2022
About"Silent Night" (German: Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) is a popular Christmas carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011. The song has been recorded by a large number of singers from every music genre. The version sung by Bing Crosby is the third best-selling single of all-time.
The song was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a village in the Austrian Empire on the Salzach river in present-day Austria. A young priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had come to Oberndorf the year before. He had written the lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" in 1816 at Mariapfarr, the hometown of his father in the Salzburg Lungau region, where Joseph had worked as a co-adjutor.
The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. Before Christmas Eve, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the Christmas Eve mass. Together they performed the new carol during the mass on the night of December 24.
The original manuscript has been lost. However, a manuscript was discovered in 1995 in Mohr's handwriting and dated by researchers as c. 1820. It states that Mohr wrote the words in 1816 when he was assigned to a pilgrim church in Mariapfarr, Austria, and shows that the music was composed by Gruber in 1818. This is the earliest manuscript that exists and the only one in Mohr's handwriting.
The first edition was published by Friese (de) in 1833 in a collection of Four Genuine Tyrolean Songs, with the following musical text:
In 1859, the Episcopal priest John Freeman Young, then serving at Trinity Church, New York City, wrote and published the English translation that is most frequently sung today, translated from three of Mohr's original six verses. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby or pastorale, differing slightly (particularly in the final strain) from Gruber's original, which was a "moderato" tune in 6/8 time and siciliana rhythm. Today, the lyrics and melody are in the public domain.
Mohr's German lyrics
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Young's English 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,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born!
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.
The carol has been translated into about 140 languages.
Several theatrical and television films depict how the song was written.
The Legend of Silent Night (1968) TV film directed by Daniel Mann
Silent Night, Holy Night (1976) animated short film by Hanna-Barbera.
Silent Mouse (1988) television special directed and produced by Robin Crichton and narrated by Lynn Redgrave.
Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night (1998) direct-to-video animated featurette
Stille Nacht (2012) directed by Christian Vuissa
The First Silent Night (2014), documentary narrated by Simon Callow
The song was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, a village in the Austrian Empire on the Salzach river in present-day Austria. A young priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had come to Oberndorf the year before. He had written the lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" in 1816 at Mariapfarr, the hometown of his father in the Salzburg Lungau region, where Joseph had worked as a co-adjutor.
The melody was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, schoolmaster and organist in the nearby village of Arnsdorf. Before Christmas Eve, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the Christmas Eve mass. Together they performed the new carol during the mass on the night of December 24.
The original manuscript has been lost. However, a manuscript was discovered in 1995 in Mohr's handwriting and dated by researchers as c. 1820. It states that Mohr wrote the words in 1816 when he was assigned to a pilgrim church in Mariapfarr, Austria, and shows that the music was composed by Gruber in 1818. This is the earliest manuscript that exists and the only one in Mohr's handwriting.
The first edition was published by Friese (de) in 1833 in a collection of Four Genuine Tyrolean Songs, with the following musical text:
In 1859, the Episcopal priest John Freeman Young, then serving at Trinity Church, New York City, wrote and published the English translation that is most frequently sung today, translated from three of Mohr's original six verses. The version of the melody that is generally used today is a slow, meditative lullaby or pastorale, differing slightly (particularly in the final strain) from Gruber's original, which was a "moderato" tune in 6/8 time and siciliana rhythm. Today, the lyrics and melody are in the public domain.
Mohr's German lyrics
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Young's English 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,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born!
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.
The carol has been translated into about 140 languages.
Several theatrical and television films depict how the song was written.
The Legend of Silent Night (1968) TV film directed by Daniel Mann
Silent Night, Holy Night (1976) animated short film by Hanna-Barbera.
Silent Mouse (1988) television special directed and produced by Robin Crichton and narrated by Lynn Redgrave.
Buster & Chauncey's Silent Night (1998) direct-to-video animated featurette
Stille Nacht (2012) directed by Christian Vuissa
The First Silent Night (2014), documentary narrated by Simon Callow
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