Monday, December 22, 2008
I'm the Lyrical Gangster--Savior Style
This will no doubt be either irrelevant or old news to many readers, but in the past few years I have a newfound appreciation for the lyrics of Christmas carols. When I was younger, they were just what they were, and I didn't think about them. Then I spent several years being "rational" and didn't think about such things. But now that I am coming back to Christianity as an adult, I am really impressed with some of the lyrics of traditional carols. This is no yummy yummy yummy I got love in my tummy. For example:
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Comments:
I love singing these too, but being a doubting Thomas means that I find that the lyrics are sometimes a bit much.
Anyway, a very merry Christmas to you!
Anyway, a very merry Christmas to you!
I also love Christmas carols. One of my favorites is Here Was a Man by Johnny Cash. A snippet:
I think I'm well within the mark when I say that all of the armies that ever marched
All of the navies that ever sailed the seas
All of the legislative bodies that ever sat and all of the kings that ever reigned
All of them put together have not affected the life of man on this earth
So powerfully as that one solitary life
Here was a man
Full lyrics here
I think I'm well within the mark when I say that all of the armies that ever marched
All of the navies that ever sailed the seas
All of the legislative bodies that ever sat and all of the kings that ever reigned
All of them put together have not affected the life of man on this earth
So powerfully as that one solitary life
Here was a man
Full lyrics here
Bob,
It's the really theological content of these songs that makes them such a joy to sing. This doesn't only apply to Christams songs though. I enjoy the deeply reflective content of the traditional Lutheran hymns at my church throughout the year.
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It's the really theological content of these songs that makes them such a joy to sing. This doesn't only apply to Christams songs though. I enjoy the deeply reflective content of the traditional Lutheran hymns at my church throughout the year.
# posted by 
: December 22, 2008 at 10:10 AM
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