Hey, Church! 

It never ceases to amaze me how some songs come and go like the wind while others find their way into the permanent DNA of humanity. “O Holy Night” is one such hymn, which debuted in 1847. But, as with many popular hymns, the version we know today came about through a series of seemingly random events and would be virtually unrecognizable by its first authors. 

The story goes that in 1847 frenchman Placide Cappeau was asked by a parish priest to write a poem for a Christmas pageant he was organizing as a fundraiser. Cappeau wrote the poem in a rush while riding in a carriage from Mâcon to Dijon (approximately 70 miles). Shortly after, famed opera composer of the day, Adolphe Adam, set the poem to music in only a few days. “Noël d’Adam,” as it was originally titled, was performed by a soprano soloist for the first time at the midnight Mass in Roquemaure, France on Christmas Eve 1847. The song was an instant hit, though its composer would not live to see, nor could he possibly imagine, how far and wide its popularity would spread. 

Here is the beginning part of Cappeau’s 1847 poem, translated to English: 

Christians, it is midnight: 
the solemn hour when the God-Man came down to us 
to wipe away original sin 
and end his father’s anger. 
The whole world trembles with hope 
on this night that gives us a savior. 
People, to your knees! Await your deliverance! 
Noel, noel! Behold, the Redeemer!

In 1855, Cappeau’s poem was officially translated to English by a Unitarian minister, transcendentalist, music teacher and critic (an interesting character, to be sure!), John Sullivan Dwight. Being a musician himself, Dwight took great poetic liberties with the song, emphasizing singability over a literal word-for-word translation. Compare the “reasonably literal prose translation” above with Dwight’s singing version: 

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining, 
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 
‘Till he appeared and teh soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, 
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices! 
O night divine! O night when Christ was born. 
O night, O holy night, O night divine.

Cappeau’s second verse translated literally: 

The ardent light of our faith guides us all 
to the infant’s cradle, 
as in other times a brilliant star 
led the kings of the East there. 
The King of kings is born in a humble stable;
you, the mighty of your day, so proud of your grandeur,
it is to your pride that God preaches.
Bow down before the Redeemer!

Dwight’s version: 

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand:
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, 
Here come the wise men from Orient land, 
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend; 
He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger! 
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend! 

Cappeau: 

The redeemer has shattered every shackle.
Earth is free, heaven open. 
He sees a brother where once was a slave,
And love unites those whom iron once held in chains.
Who will tell him that we know him? 
It is for us all that he was born, suffered, and died.
People, arise! Sing of your deliverance. 
Noel, noel! Let us sing about the redeemer!

Dwight: 

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,
And in his name all oppression shall cease, 
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his Holy name! 
Christ is the Lord, then ever! Ever praise we! 
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!

Dwight’s English translation appeared in print across France, America, and England from about 1860. As the song’s popularity increased, other writers attempted to contribute verses, but it was Dwight’s version that would endure. On Christmas Eve 1906, fifty-nine years to the day from its debut performance in France, the first-ever AM radio broadcast went live from Brant Rock, Massachusetts. Engineer Reginald Fessenden chose as the first song ever to be played over the radiowaves, “O Holy Night.” He performed it live on the violin, and sang along with the last verse. He then read a Bible passage and wished everyone listening–from naval vessels at sea, down through Norfolk, Virginia, and even as far as the West Indies–a “Merry Christmas.” 

Imagine! A Christmas carol, proclaiming the birth of Jesus Christ, along with a reading from His Word, being broadcast across the nation! How much ground have we lost as a people? Let’s do our part in gaining it back this Sunday; let’s sing O Holy Night together with more heart, joy, and passion than ever before! From coachride poetic scribble to masterpiece of musical art, the timeless hymn, when sung in faith, surely still echoes the joy of the angels on the first Noel, and still brings a smile to our Savior’s face.