O Little Town of Bethlehem è un tradizionale canto natalizio, composto nel 1868 dal vescovo statunitense Phillips Brooks (1835 - 1893), autore del testo, e dal suo organista Lewis Redner, autore della melodia.
Il brano fu probabilmente ispirato da un viaggio in Terra santa, compiuto da Brooks tre anni prima.cfr. p. es. Bowler, Gerry, Dizionario universale del Natale [The World Encyclopedia of Christmas], ed. italiana a cura di C. Corvino ed E. Petoia, Newton & Compton, Roma, 2003, p. 252
Testo
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 to-night.
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, oh how silently, The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still The dear Christ enters in.
Where children pure and happy Pray to the blessed Child, Where misery cries out to thee, Son of the mother mild; Where charity stands watching And faith holds wide the door, The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, And Christmas comes once more.
O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us to-day. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!
Versioni Il brano è stato interpretato, tra l'altro, da: Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews, Amy Grant, Cliff Richard, Frank Sinatra ed altri fra cui Bob Dylan che nel 2009 l'ha inserita nel suo album Christmas in the Heart.
Note
Voci correlate Canto natalizio Natale Nascita di Gesù Betlemme Away in a Manger Ding Dong Merrily on High The First Nowell I Saw Three Ships I Wonder As I Wander It Came Upon the Midnight Clear Joy to the World We Three Kings of Orient Are Adeste fideles Astro del ciel Dejlig er den himmel blå
Altri progetti
Collegamenti esterni