Do You Hear What I Hear ? - Wikipedia Do You Hear What I Hear ? `` Do You Hear What I Hear ? '' Song by Harry Simeone Written October 1962 Composer ( s ) Gloria Shayne Baker Lyricist ( s ) Noël Regney `` Do You Hear What I Hear ? '' is a song written in October 1962, with lyrics by Noël Regney and music by Gloria Shayne Baker. The pair, married at the time, wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Regney had been invited by a record producer to write a Christmas song, but he was hesitant due to the commercialism of the Christmas holiday. It has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of artists. Contents 1 Songwriting 2 Recordings and versions 2.1 Original recordings 2.2 Cover versions 2.3 Use in a medley with other songs 3 References Songwriting Regney wrote the lyrics for the song, while Shayne composed the music in October 1962. This was an unusual arrangement for the two writers. Usually it was Shayne who wrote the lyrics for their songs while Regney composed the music, as they did when they wrote a song based on the classic children 's song `` Rain Rain Go Away ''. Regney was inspired to write the lyrics `` Said the night wind to the little lamb, ' Do you see what I see ? ' '' and `` Pray for peace, people everywhere '' after watching babies being pushed in strollers on the sidewalks of New York City. Shayne stated in an interview years later that neither could personally perform the entire song at the time they wrote it because of the emotions surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis. `` Our little song broke us up. You must realize there was a threat of nuclear war at the time. '' Recordings and versions Original recordings `` Do You Hear What I Hear ? '' was released shortly after Thanksgiving in 1962. The song was originally recorded for Mercury Records by the Harry Simeone Chorale, a group which had also popularized `` The Little Drummer Boy '' ; and it was released as part of the album `` The Wonderful Songs Of Christmas With The Harry Simeone Chorale ''. As a 45 rpm single, it went on to sell more than a quarter - million copies during the 1962 Christmas holiday season. Bing Crosby made the song into a hit when he recorded his own version of it on October 21, 1963, with the record being released as a single on October 26. Crosby also performed the song on a Bob Hope Christmas television special on December 13 of that year. Over the years, Crosby 's recording of the song has been widely played on the radio, and has been available on numerous compilation Christmas albums and compact discs put out by Capitol Records. Cover versions This section may contain indiscriminate, excessive, or irrelevant examples. Please improve the article by adding more descriptive text and removing less pertinent examples. See Wikipedia 's guide to writing better articles for further suggestions. ( June 2017 ) The song was later recorded in diverse ways by hundreds of artists including : Jack Jones ( 1964 - The Jack Jones Christmas Album ) Eddie Fisher ( 1965 - Mary Christmas ) Andy Williams ( 1965 - Merry Christmas ) Pat Boone ( 1966 - Christmas is a Comin ' ) The Joystrings ( 1966 - Well Seasoned ) Kate Smith ( 1966 - The Kate Smith Christmas Album ) Ed Ames ( 1967 - Christmas with Ed Ames ) Anita Bryant ( 1967 - Christmas with Anita Bryant ) Diahann Carroll ( 1967 ) ( appears on various artists ' 1995 holiday album Christmas Encore ! ) Jim Nabors ( 1967 - Jim Nabors ' Christmas Album ) Perry Como ( 1968 - The Perry Como Christmas Album ) Robert Goulet ( 1968 - Robert Goulet 's Wonderful World of Christmas ) Mahalia Jackson ( 1968 - Christmas with Mahalia ) Johnny Mathis ( 1969 - Give Me Your Love for Christmas ) Gladys Knight & the Pips ( 1975 - Bless This House ) The Carpenters ( 1984 - An Old - Fashioned Christmas ) Hampton String Quartet ( 1986 ) ( What if Mozart Wrote Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ) Whitney Houston ( 1987 ) ( for the Special Olympics benefit album A Very Special Christmas ) Anne Murray ( 1988 - Anne Murray Christmas ) Jose Mari Chan ( 1990 - Christmas in Our Hearts ) Vince Gill ( 1993 - Let There Be Peace on Earth ) Bob Hope & Dolores Hope ( 1993 - Hopes for the Holidays ) John Tesh ( 1994 - The Choirs of Christmas ) La Bouche ( 1994 - Bravo Dance X-Mas ) Glen Campbell ( 1995 - Christmas with Glen Campbell ) Patti LaBelle ( 1995 - for a Washington, DC Christmas Musical ) ( 2007 - Miss Patti 's Christmas ) David Arkenstone ( 1997 - Enchantment : A Magical Christmas ) Minimum Wage ( 1997 - from various artists ' holiday album A Punk & Ska Christmas Gone Wrong ) United States Air Force Symphony Orchestra ( 1997 - This Is Christmas ) Anthony Way ( 1997 - The Choirboy 's Christmas ) ( with St. Paul 's Cathedral Choir & English Chamber Orchestra ) Rosie O'Donnell with Elmo ( 1999 - A Rosie Christmas ) Martina McBride ( 1999 - White Christmas ) Linda Eder with The Broadway Gospel Choir ( 2000 - Christmas Stays the Same ) Kelly Rowland ( 2001 - from the Destiny 's Child album 8 Days of Christmas ) Mannheim Steamroller ( 2001 - Christmas Extraordinaire ) Kirk Whalum ( 2001 - The Christmas Message ) Tropical Flavor Steel Drum Band ( 2001 - Island Christmas ) South African singer Jo Day ( 2002 - for various artists ' holiday album The Santa Sessions ) Kenny G ( 2002 - Wishes : A Holiday Album ) Delta Goodrem ( 2002 - for the holiday compilation album The Spirit of Christmas 2002 ) Jim Brickman ( 2003 - Peace ) Larry Norman ( 2003 - Christmastime : The Day that a Child Appeared ) ( as `` Do You See What I See '' ) Copeland ( 2004 - for the holiday compilation album Maybe This Christmas Tree ) Flyleaf ( 2005 - Do You Hear What I Hear ) Third Day ( 2006 - Christmas Offerings ) Patti LaBelle, 2007 Miss Patti Christmas. Carrie Underwood ( 2008 - Walmart holiday edition of her album Carnival Ride ) Johnny Cash ( recording date unknown, released 2008 ) Kristin Chenoweth ( 2008 - A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas ) Heather Headley ( 2008 - Do You Hear What I Hear ) Lani Misalucha ( 2008 - The Gift of Christmas ) Connie Talbot ( 2008 - Connie Talbot 's Christmas Album ) ( 2009 - Connie Talbot 's Holiday Magic ) Kristinia DeBarge ( 2009 ) ( for the Special Olympics holiday album A Very Special Christmas 7 ) Bob Dylan ( 2009 - Christmas in the Heart ) Ali Slaight and Theo Tams ( 2009 ) Joey McIntyre ( 2009 ) from the album Come Home for Christmas Susan Boyle with Amber Stassi ( 2010 - from Susan Boyle 's album The Gift ) Pink Martini ( 2010 - Joy to the World ) Vanessa Carlton ( 2011 - Hear the Bells ) Sufjan Stevens ( 2012 - Silver & Gold ) William Beckett ( 2013 - for the holiday compilation album Punk Goes Christmas ) Idina Menzel ( 2014 - Holiday Wishes ) Home Free Vocal Band ( 2014 - Full of Cheer ; 2016 - Full of ( Even More ) Cheer ) Jackie Evancho ( 2016 - Someday at Christmas ) Use in a medley with other songs Bobby Lloyd & The Skeletons ( 1990 - Christmas Party with Eddie G. ) ( performed as a medley with the rock classic `` You Really Got Me '' ) Vanessa Williams ( 1996 - Star Bright ) ( performed in a medley with `` Little Drummer Boy '' ) Moya Brennan ( 2005 - An Irish Christmas ) ( in medley with `` Don oiche... '' ) Regney said that his favorite version of the song was performed by Robert Goulet : as The New York Times noted, when the singer came to the line `` pray for peace, people everywhere, '' he `` almost shouted the words. '' References ^ Jump up to : Noland, Claire ( 2008 - 03 - 15 ). `` Pianist wrote music for holiday song ''. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016 - 11 - 29. ^ Jump up to : Fox, Margalit ( 2008 - 03 - 11 ). `` Gloria Shayne Baker, Composer and Lyricist, Dies at 84 ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 2008 - 03 - 23. Jump up ^ Media, Franciscan. `` Franciscan Media ''. www.americancatholic.org. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 25. Jump up ^ `` A Bing Crosby Discography - Part 4a - Song Index ''. www.bingmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 25. Jump up ^ Jones, Jack. `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. Second Hand Songs. 1964. https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/183019 Jump up ^ Fisher, Eddie. `` Mary Christmas ''. Dot Records. 1965. http://www.allmusic.com/album/mary-christmas-mw0001263978 Jump up ^ Smith, Kate. `` The Kate Smith Christmas Album ''. RCA / Sony Music Distribution. 28 November 1966. http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-kate-smith-christmas-album-mw0000613874 Jump up ^ Carroll, Diahann. `` Discography ''. Diahann ! http://www.diahann-carroll.com/discography/misc1.html Jump up ^ Various Artists. `` Christmas Encore ''. Legacy / Sony Music Distribution. 15 August 1995. http://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-encore-mw0000176602 Jump up ^ Perry Como with The Ray Charles Singers. `` The Perry Como Christmas Album ''. Kokomo / RCA Victor. Mid-Late August 1968. `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2012 - 04 - 02. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 26. Jump up ^ Jackson, Mahalia. `` Christmas with Mahalia ''. Columbia / Sony Music Distribution. 1968. http://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-with-mahalia-columbia-mw0002348379 Jump up ^ Gladys Knight & the Pips Cover of Harry Simeone Chorale 's `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/cover/193975/Gladys-Knight-%26-the-Pips-Do-You-Hear-What-I-Hear%3F-The-Harry-Simeone-Chorale-Do-You-Hear-What-I-Hear%3F/ Jump up ^ Hampton String Quartet. `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. YouTube : Hampton String Quartet - Topic. 25 February 2015. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kR04NONU5IU Jump up ^ Murray, Anne. `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. YouTube : Anne Murray - Topic. 8 November 2014. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AKsZT2hQwpo Jump up ^ Bob Hope & Dolores Hope. `` Hopes for the Holidays ''. Hope Enterprises, Inc. 1993. https://www.amazon.com/Hopes-Holidays-Bob-Dolores-Hope/dp/B000MOSAEM Jump up ^ LaBelle, Patti. `` Do You Hear What I Hear... ''. YouTube : House of Black Music. 5 January 2017. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i5GP2BvenaQ Jump up ^ Arkenstone, David. `` Enchantment : A Magical Christmas ''. Narada. 9 September 1997. http://www.allmusic.com/album/enchantment-a-magical-christmas-mw0000029953 Jump up ^ United States Air Force Symphony Orchestra. `` This Is Christmas ''. Altissimo. 23 September 1997. http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-christmas!-mw0000394012 Jump up ^ Anthony Way with St. Paul 's Cathedral Choir. `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. YouTube : Maureen Ruiz. 24 December 2009. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx4GGKxmcuk Jump up ^ Choir of King 's College Cambridge. `` The Ultimate Carol Collection ''. Decca Classics. 10 November 1997. http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4588632 Jump up ^ Rosie O'Donnell and Elmo Cover of Harry Simeone Chorale 's `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/cover/73918/Elmo-Rosie-O%27donnell-Do-You-Hear-What-I-Hear%3F-The-Harry-Simeone-Chorale-Do-You-Hear-What-I-Hear%3F/ Jump up ^ Linda Eder and The Broadway Gospel Choir. `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. Second Hand Songs. 2000. https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/507153/versions Jump up ^ Tropical Flavor Steel Drum Band. `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. YouTube : T.F.S.D.B. - Topic. 14 October 2015. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i7g7GgYuiss Jump up ^ Horn, Tracy. `` Various Artists - 5fm Presents The Santa Sessions ''. November 2002. http://www.rock.co.za/legends/2000plus/santa.html Retrieved 15 October 2013. Jump up ^ Flyleaf. `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. Octone. 2005. https://www.christianrock.net/songs/Do_You_Hear_What_I_Hear__by__Flyleaf Jump up ^ `` A Country Christmas ''. Toronto Public Library. 2008. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 24. Jump up ^ Headley, Heather. `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. YouTube : Heather Headley - Topic. 13 March 2014. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rysBIoluNN0 Jump up ^ Misalucha, Lani. `` The Gift of Christmas ''. Universal Records. November 2008. http://regalo7107.com/?pid=1579829 Jump up ^ McIntyre invites New Kids fans to `` Come Home for Christmas ''. Sean 's Space on blogspot on The Poughkeepsie Journal, 8 December 2011. Jump up ^ Vanessa Carlton Cover of Harry Simeone Chorale 's `` Do You Hear What I Hear ''. WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/cover/129887/Vanessa-Carlton-Do-You-Hear-What-I-Hear%3F-The-Harry-Simeone-Chorale-Do-You-Hear-What-I-Hear%3F/ Jump up ^ Douglas Martin : Noel Regney, Songwriter Known for ' Do You Hear What I Hear ? ' Is Dead at 80. NYTimes.com, December 1, 2012, last access Dec. 25, 2017. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Do_You_Hear_What_I_Hear%3F&oldid=827581354 '' Categories : American Christmas songs Songs written by Noël Regney 1962 songs Songs written by Gloria Shayne Baker Glen Campbell songs Bing Crosby songs Hidden categories : Articles with too many examples Pages using div col without cols and colwidth parameters Talk Contents About Wikipedia Italiano Nederlands 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 25 February 2018, at 15 : 31. About Wikipedia

Question: who sang the original version of do you hear what i hear
Answer: Harry Simeone Chorale