O Little Town of Bethlehem

There was a corn flakes commercial a while back that invited people to "taste them again for the first time." As I did lots of Christmas music planning this month, I kind of had that same of experience with an old Christmas carol.

To be honest, I've never been a big fan of "O Little Town of Bethlehem." The chromatic melody always seemed a little schmaltzy to me, and who wants to sing a song to a town anyway? But this year I looked at all four stanzas for the first time in a while. I'm still not crazy about the tune, but boy, the lyrics are just great. Why don't you "read them again for the first time":

O Little Town of Bethlehem

- Words by Phillips Brooks, 1867

O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,

And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n;

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n.

No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!

I hope this Christmas season you've been able to reflect on the "wondrous gift...the blessings of His Heaven...our Lord Emmanuel."