1. Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child! Holy Infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. 2. Silent night, holy night, Darkness flies, all is light; Shepherds hear the angels sing, 'Alleluia! hail the King! Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.' 3. Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord at Thy birth. 4. Silent night, holy night, Wondrous star, lend thy light; With angels let us sing Alleluia to our King; Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born.
Lyrics: Joseph Mohr
Music: Franz Xaver Grüber
Tune: STILLE NACHT
Meter: Irregular meter
Joseph Mohr, 1792–1848
English translation by John F. Young, 1820–1885
Joseph Mohr, assistant priest in the Church of St. Nicholas in the region of Tyrol, high in the beautiful Alps, and Franz Grüber, the village schoolmaster and church organist, had often talked about the fact that the perfect Christmas hymn had never been written. So Father Mohr had this goal in mind when he received word that the church organ would not function. He decided that he must write his own Christmas hymn immediately in order to have music for the special Christmas Eve mass. He did not want to disappoint his faithful flock. Upon completing the text, he took his words to Franz Grüber, who exclaimed when he saw them, “Friend Mohr, you have found it—the right song—God be praised!”
Soon Grüber completed his task of composing an appropriate tune for the new text. His simple but beautiful music blended perfectly with the spirit of Father Mohr’s words. The carol was completed in time for the Christmas Eve mass, and Father Mohr and Franz Gruber sang their new hymn to the accompaniment of Grüber’s guitar. The hymn made a deep impact upon the parishioners. When the organ repairman came to the little village church, he was impressed by a copy of the Christmas carol and decided to spread it all around the region of Tyrol. Today, it is sung in all major languages of the world.