O holy night - wikipedia O holy night For other uses, see O Holy Night ( disambiguation ). O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam Native name Cantique de Noël Genre Classical, Christmas Text Placide Cappeau Language French, English Performed 1847 ( 1847 ) `` O Holy Night '' piano solo `` O Holy Night '' ( French : `` Minuit Chretiens ! '' or `` Cantique de Noël '' ) is a well - known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem `` Minuit, chrétiens '' ( Midnight, Christians ) written by a wine merchant and poet, Placide Cappeau ( 1808 -- 1877 ). In both the French original and the two familiar English versions of the carol, as well as many other languages, the text reflects on the birth of Jesus and on humanity 's redemption. Contents 1 History 2 Lyrics 3 Recordings 4 References 5 External links History In Roquemaure at the end of 1843, the church organ had recently been renovated. To celebrate the event, the parish priest asked Cappeau, a native of the town, to write a Christmas poem, even though the latter had never showed any interest in religion, and Cappeau obliged. Soon afterwards, Adam wrote the music. The song was premiered in Roquemaure in 1847 by the opera singer Emily Laurey. Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight, editor of Dwight 's Journal of Music, created a singing edition based on Cappeau 's French text in 1855. Lyrics Placide Cappeau 's Cantique de Noël Literal English translation Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure solennelle, Où l'Homme Dieu descendit jusqu'à nous Pour effacer la tache originelle Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux. Le monde entier tressaille d'espérance En cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur. Peuple à genoux, attends ta délivrance. Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur, Noël, Noël, voici le Rédempteur ! De notre foi que la lumière ardente Nous guide tous au berceau de l'Enfant, Comme autrefois une étoile brillante Y conduisit les chefs de l'Orient. Le Roi des rois naît dans une humble crèche : Puissants du jour, fiers de votre grandeur, A votre orgueil, c'est de là que Dieu prêche. Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur. Courbez vos fronts devant le Rédempteur. Le Rédempteur a brisé toute entrave : La terre est libre, et le ciel est ouvert. Il voit un frère où n'était qu'un esclave, L'amour unit ceux qu'enchaînait le fer. Qui lui dira notre reconnaissance, C'est pour nous tous qu'il naît, qu'il souffre et meurt. Peuple debout ! Chante ta délivrance, Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur, Noël, Noël, chantons le Rédempteur ! Midnight, Christians, is the solemn hour, When God as man descended unto us To erase the stain of original sin And to end the wrath of His Father. The entire world thrills with hope On this night that gives it a Saviour. People, kneel down, await your deliverance. Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer, Christmas, Christmas, here is the Redeemer ! May the ardent light of our Faith Guide us all to the cradle of the infant, As in ancient times a brilliant star Guided the Oriental kings there. The King of Kings was born in a humble manger ; O mighty ones of today, proud of your greatness, It is to your pride that God preaches. Bow your heads before the Redeemer ! Bow your heads before the Redeemer ! The Redeemer has broken every bond : The Earth is free, and Heaven is open. He sees a brother where there was only a slave, Love unites those that iron had chained. Who will tell Him of our gratitude, For all of us He is born, He suffers and dies. People, stand up ! Sing of your deliverance, Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer, Christmas, Christmas, sing of the Redeemer ! John Sullivan Dwight 's version Unattributed version O holy night ! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour 's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appear 'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees ! O hear the angel voices ! O night divine, O night when Christ was born ; O night divine, O night, O night Divine. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here come the wise men from the Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger ; In all our trials born to be our friend. He knows our need, to our weaknesses no stranger, Behold your King ! Before Him lowly bend ! Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend ! Truly He taught us to love one another ; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother ; And in His name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord ! O praise His Name forever, His power and glory evermore proclaim. His power and glory evermore proclaim. O ! Holy night ! The stars, their gleams prolonging, Watch o'er the eve of our dear Saviour 's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error, longing For His appearance, then the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope ; the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees ! O hear the angel voices ! O night divine, the night when Christ was born ; O night, O holy night, O night divine ! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts we stand by the Babe adored. O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming, And come now, Shepherds, from your flocks unboard. The Son of God lay thus within lowly manger ; In all our trials born to be our Lord. He knows our need, our weakness never lasting, Behold your King ! By Him, let Earth accord ! Behold your King ! By Him, let Earth accord ! Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Long live His truth, and may it last forever, For in His name all discordant noise shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise us, With all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord ! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory evermore proclaim ! His power and glory evermore proclaim ! ( The second and third choruses are often replaced with a refrain of the first ). ( The second verse is often omitted in most public renderings. ) ( Also the final chorus, His power and glory, evermore proclaim !, is often changed to French - English mix : Noël, Noël, O Night, O Night Divine. ) Recordings The song has been recorded by numerous well - known popular - music, classical - music, and religious - music singers. Some milestones include : 1968 : Mahalia Jackson, on her album Christmas With Mahalia 1968 : Mireille Mathieu, with her father Roger Mathieu, on her Chante Noël album ( re-released as a CD in 2004 with three additional songs ) 1992 : Bill Pinkney, accompanied by The Original Drifters, for the Wisepack White Christmas Compilation CD 1993 : David Foster arranged and produced the song successfully for several different artists including : 1999 : Michael Crawford, on the TV special The David Foster Christmas Album ; also featured on Foster 's best - selling corresponding album ( No. 48 Billboard Top 200 ) as well as Crawford 's own A Christmas Album ( No. 98 Billboard Top 200 ) 1999 : Trans - Siberian Orchestra 's platinum - selling DVD The Ghosts of Christmas Eve 2002 : Josh Groban ( No. 1 Billboard Adult Contemporary ) 2004 : Celine Dion, featured on her 5 × platinum album These Are Special Times ( voted most popular ) 2009 : Andrea Bocelli for his double platinum My Christmas album 1996 : John Berry 's version charted at No. 55 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs 1997 : Martina McBride 's rendering charted at No. 74 on Hot Country Songs chart ( also No. 67 in 1998, No. 49 in 1999, No. 57 in 2000, and No. 41 in 2001 ) 2006 : Josh Gracin 's charted at No. 59 on Hot Country Songs chart References Jump up ^ Collins, Ace ; ( 2001 ), Stories Behind the Best - Loved Songs of Christmas, Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, pp. 132 -- 138. Jump up ^ Nobbman, Dale V. ' Christmas Music Companion Fact Book. ' 2000. p 36. Google Books Jump up ^ http://www.musicstack.com/album/mahalia+jackson/christmas+with+mahalia Jump up ^ `` Mireille Mathieu -- Mireille Mathieu Chante Noël ( CD, Album ) at Discogs ''. Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ `` CD Album -- Various Artistes -- White Christmas, Volume 1 -- Wisepack UK ''. 45worlds website. Retrieved 8 December 2017. Jump up ^ http://www.musicarchivevault.com, ( subscription required ) ^ Jump up to : `` Billboard Singles Charts Record Research MusicVault ''. Musicarchivevault.com. Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Top Annual Winter Holiday Tour To Kick Off November 6 ''. Trans-siberian.com. Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ `` That Josh Groban Guy ''. That Josh Groban Guy. Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ searchable RIAA database Jump up ^ Edison Research 2004 seasonal song test poll results Jump up ^ `` Italian tenor 's album sales top five million -- Thaindian News ''. Thaindian.com. 2009 - 12 - 30. Retrieved 2013 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2008 ). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 49. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 177 - 2. Jump up ^ Whitburn, p. 263 Jump up ^ Whitburn, p. 166 External links IMSLP Original version in several keys, and various arrangements. Free sheet music for voice & piano from Cantorion.org Sheet music for `` O Holy Night '' ( Cantique de Noël ) Tabs for `` O Holy Night '' Sheet music for solo piano arrangement of `` O Holy Night '' ( Cantique de Noël ) Preceded by `` Cry '' by Faith Hill Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one single by Josh Groban December 28, 2002 -- January 4, 2003 Succeeded by `` Cry '' by Faith Hill Christmas Christmas Eve Children 's Day Boxing Day Nochebuena Saint Nicholas Day St. Stephen 's Day Sol Invictus Yule In Christianity Biblical Magi Adoration of the Magi Adoration of the Shepherds Advent Angel Gabriel Annunciation Annunciation to the shepherds Baptism of the Lord Bethlehem Christingle Christmastide Epiphany Herod the Great Jesus Joseph Mary Massacre of the Innocents flight into Egypt Nativity Fast Nativity of Jesus in art in later culture Nativity scene Saint Nicholas Star of Bethlehem Twelfth Night In folklore Badalisc La Befana Belsnickel Caganer Christkind Ded Moroz Elves Father Christmas Grýla Jack Frost Joulupukki Knecht Ruprecht Korvatunturi Krampus Mikulás Miner 's figure Mrs. Claus Nisse / Tomte North Pole Old Man Winter Olentzero Père Fouettard Père Noël Rudolph the Red - Nosed Reindeer Saint Lucy Santa 's reindeer Santa 's workshop Sinterklaas Tió de Nadal Vertep Yule Cat Yule Lads Zwarte Piet Gift - bringers Saint Nicholas Santa Claus List of Christmas gift - bringers by country Traditions Advent calendar Advent candle Advent wreath Boar 's Head Feast Candle arches Cards Carols by Candlelight Cavalcade of Magi Crackers Decorations Events and celebrations Feast of the Seven Fishes Flying Santa Google Santa Tracker Hampers Las Posadas Letters Lights Lord of Misrule Markets Meals and feasts Moravian star Nine Lessons and Carols NORAD Tracks Santa Nutcrackers dolls Ornaments Parades list Piñatas Pyramids Räuchermann Seals Secret Santa Spanbaum Stamps Stockings Tree Twelve Days Wassailing Windows Yule Goat Yule log By country Australia and New Zealand Denmark Germany Hawaii Hungary Iceland Indonesia Ireland Mexico Norway Philippines Poland Romania Russia Scotland Serbia Sweden Ukraine Music Carols list Hit singles UK Hit singles US Music books Carols for Choirs The Oxford Book of Carols The New Oxford Book of Carols Piae Cantiones Other media Films Poetry `` Old Santeclaus with Much Delight '' `` A Visit from St. Nicholas '' Television specials Yule Log In modern society Advent Conspiracy Black Friday ( partying ) Black Friday ( shopping ) Bronner 's Christmas Wonderland Christmas club Christmas creep Christmas Day ( Trading ) Act 2004 Christmas Lectures Christmas Mountains Christmas truce Controversies Cyber Monday Economics Giving Tuesday El Gordo Holiday season In July In August Leon Day NBA games NFL games Puritan New England American Civil War Post-War United States Running of the Santas SantaCon Santa 's Candy Castle Small Business Saturday Super Saturday Virginia O'Hanlon White Christmas Winter festivals WWE Tribute to the Troops Xmas Food and drink Dinner Joulupöytä Julebord Kūčios Réveillon Twelve - dish supper Smörgåsbord Wigilia Sweets bûche de Noël Cake Candy cane Cookies Fruitcake Gingerbread Kourabiedes Melomakarono Mince pie Pavlova Pecan pie Pumpkin pie Pudding Rosca de reyes Szaloncukor Turrón Soup Menudo Sauce Cranberry sauce Beverages Apple cider Champurrado Eggnog Mulled wine Smoking Bishop Ponche crema Dumpling Hallaca Tamale Meat Ham Roast goose Romeritos Turkey Stuffing Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=O_Holy_Night&oldid=818295023 '' Categories : Compositions by Adolphe Adam 1847 compositions Glen Campbell songs French Christian hymns Christmas carols Christmas songs Billboard Adult Contemporary number - one singles 1847 songs Hidden categories : Articles containing French - language text Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikisource Català Čeština Deutsch Español Euskara Français 한국어 Ilokano Italiano Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Polski Русский Simple English Slovenščina Suomi Svenska Tagalog ไทย Türkçe 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 2 January 2018, at 19 : 20. 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Question: what does the song o holy night mean
Answer: the birth of Jesus and on humanity's redemption