Silent Night

Let's start with a classic Christmas Song: "Silent Night." Originally written in German as "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" by Josef Mohr (words) and Franz Xaber Gruber (melody), it was translated into English in 1859 by John Freeman Young and has become a much-loved Christmas standard for carolers and pop artists.

(English-language) Lyrics for "Silent Night"

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

(German-language) Lyrics for "Stille nacht"

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!

Recordings: My favorite version is the anti-war lullaby, "Silent Night/7 O'Clock News" recorded by folk-rock duo Simon and Garfunkel for their 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, which juxtaposed this lovely melody with a real recording of a 1960s news broadcast read by Charlie O'Donnell. See below:



Or try this humorous version done by the Ween "brothers" of New Hope, PA, in the style of a Yiddish-speaking Jewish American:



Or try this classic version by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir of Salt Lake City, Utah.