O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
(Phillips Brooks / Lewis H. Redner, 1868)
Frank Sinatra & The Ken Lane Singers - 1947
Burl Ives - 1952
Elvis Presley - 1957
Frank Sinatra & The Ralph Brewster Singers - 1957
Ray Conniff Singers - 1961
Mahalia Jackson - 1962
Johnny Cash - 1963
Jim Reeves - 1963
Nat King Cole - 1963
Percy Faith & His Orch. - 1966
Julie Ansrews - 1968
Ray Price - 1969
Willie Nelson - 1979
Oak Ridge Boys - 1982
Don McLean - 1991
Also recorded by: Jeannie Seeley; The Louvin Brothers; Joni James; Jerry Vale; The Mills Brothers;
Dolly Parton; Dick Haymes; Emmylou Harris; The Staple Singers; Tammy Wynette.
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to-night.
For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to thee,
Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching
And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.
O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us to-day.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
*****
O BETHLEHEM, DU STÄDTCHEN KLEIN
(O Little Town Of Bethlehem)
German Translation
O Bethlehem, du Städtchen klein, wie ruhig liegst du da!
Du schläfst un gold'ne Sternelein, die leuchten fern und nah!
Doch in den nächt'gen Straßen das ew'ge Licht erscheint,
Für alle die in traurig kein gar bitterlich geweint.
O Christus deine Erdenfahrt verkündigt uns der Stern.
Ein ew'ger Friede ist beschert den Menschen nah und fern.
Der Herr erschien, lob preiset, singt Jubellieder hell!
O komm zu uns, o bleib bei uns, O Herr Immanuel!
O Bethlehem, du Städtchen klein, wie friedlich liegt du da!
Du schläfst und frohe Engelein, die wachen fern und nah.
O heilig Kind im Stalle in uns're Seelen komm!
Befrei uns von der Sündenpein und mach uns gut und fromm!
