O Holy Night
France Lyrics
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
History and Meaning
A well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem 'Minuit, chrétiens' by Placide Cappeau. The song faced initial controversy in France due to Cappeau's anti-clerical views and Adam's Jewish faith, leading the church to ban it, though it remained popular among the people; in 1855, American minister John Sullivan Dwight translated it into English as "O Holy Night," which quickly gained popularity in the United States. The carol holds the distinction of being the first song ever broadcast on radio when Reginald Fessenden played it on his violin on Christmas Eve, 1906.