Still the night

It has been called the most beloved Christmas Carol of all time - Silent Night

My personal favorite version is by Katy Bowser from the 2001 CD Your King Has Come

You can listen to it here

But the familiar melody we recognize today as “Silent Night” or “Stille Nacht” is not quite the same one that Franz Gruber composed, and although the song was not truly “lost” or “forgotten”—as legend would have it—the world-famous carol did take many years to become as well known and as ubiquitous as it is today. In the intervening years Joseph Mohr is known to have written a “Stille Nacht” arrangement around 1820, and new hand-written arrangements by Franz Gruber appeared before his death—one for a full orchestra in 1845, and another for organ in 1855. By 1900 “Stille Nacht” had made its way around the entire globe.

The following is the complete German text from an authentic version of Franz Gruber's known as Autograph VII and written around 1860.

Most English versions of "Silent Night!" include just three verses, which correspond to a translation from the original text of verses 1, 6 and 2, in that order.

 It is a direct translation into English. The intent here is not to make translated lyrics which fit the melody, but rather to provide the reader with a better understanding of the original German text.

1. Silent night! Holy night! All are sleeping, alone and awake
Only the intimate holy pair, Lovely boy with curly hair,
Sleep in heavenly peace! Sleep in heavenly peace!


2. Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, O how he laughs
Love from your divine mouth, Then it hits us - the hour of salvation.
Jesus at your birth! Jesus at your birth!

3. Silent night! Holy night! Which brought salvation to the world,
From Heaven's golden heights, Mercy's abundance was made visible to us:
Jesus in human form, Jesus in human form.

4. Silent night! Holy night! Where on this day all power
of fatherly love poured forth And like a brother lovingly embraced
Jesus the peoples of the world, Jesus the peoples of the world.

5. Silent night! Holy night! Already long ago planned for us,
When the Lord frees from wrath Since the beginning of ancient times
A salvation promised for the whole world. A salvation promised for the whole world.

6. Silent night! Holy night! To shepherds it was first made known
By the angel, Alleluia; Sounding forth loudly far and near:
Jesus the Savior is here! Jesus the Savior is here