I’ve always loved O Holy Night as a song, but have always wished that the lyrics talked a little more about what Christ came to do. We decided to use it in our Christmas Production at Covenant Life this year, and so we asked Kevin Hartnett, our resident poet, if he would write a new verse or two. Here’s what he wrote. Below I’ve posted the original verse 1, and then Kevin’s additional two verses. You could use just one of them if you wanted, depending on your arrangement (that’s what we’re doing this year – having a soloist sing the original verse 1, and then Kevin’s next verse).
Verse One (Placide Cappeau, trans. John S. Dwight)
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared 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, O holy night, O night divine!
Verse Two (Kevin Hartnett)
Humbly He lay, Creator come as creature,
Born on the floor of a hay-scattered stall.
True Son of God, yet bearing human feature,
He entered earth to reverse Adam’s fall.
In towering grace, He laid aside His glory,
And in our place, was sacrificed for sin.
Fall on your knees! O hear the gospel story!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Verse Three (Kevin Hartnett)
Come then to Him Who lies within the manger,
With joyful shepherds, proclaim Him as Lord.
Let not the Promised Son remain a stranger;
In reverent worship, make Christ your Adored.
Eternal life is theirs who will receive Him;
With grace and peace, their lives He will adorn.
Fall on your knees! Receive the Gift of heaven!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
This song is also posted at a permanent page.
I’ve been writing new/alternate lyrics for songs this year – but nothing so poetic and deep as Kevin’s wonderful words. These are two verses I wrote for “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” which we sang at our church a couple of weeks ago. The first one is completely original and the second one uses the first couple of lines of the traditional final verse but then the rest is original.
He left His home in heaven,
He left His Father’s side,
And came to dwell with sinful men
And with us to abide.
He took our sins upon Himself
And on the cross He died.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place;
For Christ has made us brothers
And called us by His grace
To live with Him in heaven
Where we shall see His face.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
It’s a theme! Check out our new verses for “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”:
Come to take our sins away.
In Thy sacrificial favor
Spare us, heal us, cleanse us, we pray.
We, like sheep, had lost direction;
We could not for our shame atone.
From the altar of Thy perfection
Make Thy blameless life our own.
Come, Thou Way of our redemption,
All our wand’rings rectify;
Truth, but not of our own invention,
Jesus, Word of God, reply.
Life, eternal and resurrected,
Thou to our spiritless framework impart;
And, by Thy love to the Father directed,
Way and Truth and Life Thou art!
(c) 2007 Joshua Westerholm
“O night… ” Well I really appreciate the new lyrics but I do have some difficulty to address “the night” as it is still only part of the created realm. In addition To address the night as “divine”, to me appears as blasphemy. Is this not akin to worshiping creation rather than the Creator?
Am I just a purist? I would like to hear some comments.