This was my late Mom's favorite carol, and the older I have gotten, the more I have come to appreciate the grace and peace that is in it.
The lyric was a poem written by Episcopal clergyman Phillips Brooks after a pilgrimage in 1865 to Bethlehem. His church organist, Lewis Rednick, added the melody.
These precious words are well worth contemplating.

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 tonight

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwfkGj51S2c

Very nice, Bill.

I'm not what you'd call a traditionally religious person, but fully admit there is something going on when the old wisdoms and truths are related via song.

This is one that stops me in my tracks whenever I hear it. I love choral music and the purity of the message and the way it is delivered is truly beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm3fZDZxiko


The tree of life my soul hath seen
Laden with fruit and always green
The tree of life my soul hath seen
Laden with fruit and always green
The trees of nature fruitless be
Compared with Christ the Apple Tree


His beauty doth all things excel
By faith I know but ne'er can tell
His beauty doth all things excel
By faith I know but ne'er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the Apple Tree


For happiness I long have sought
And pleasure dearly I have bought
For happiness I long have sought
And pleasure dearly I have bought
I missed of all but now I see
'Tis found in Christ the Apple Tree


I'm weary with my former toil
Here I will sit and rest a while
I'm weary with my former toil
Here I will sit and rest a while
Under the shadow I will be
Of Jesus Christ the Apple Tree


This fruit doth make my soul to thrive
It keeps my dying faith alive
This fruit doth make my soul to thrive
It keeps my dying faith alive
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the Apple Tree

Bax, thank you for sharing the blessing of that song. And a very merry Christmas to you sir!

Thanks, Bill, that brought back some memories from my childhood of singing carols + hymns at the Christmas Eve service. About 22 years ago + good friend of mine wanted to go sing Christmas carols at the old folks home in the next small town (Burtram). her husband didn't want to go so I said I would so I grabbed up my 7 year old + went caroling. We had a good time but my son was disturbed by the dementia cases. All in all a good way to spend Christmas Eve.

I lean towards "Mary, Did you know?" this year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE or Little Drummer Boy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_MGWio-vc Maybe it's just the Pentatonix, a North Texas group, that's in my head.

Ken, I, too am a great admirer of "Mary Did You Know" -- and of the challenging-to-sing "Oh, Holy Night."
Here is Jennifer Nettles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAEJKg0lSPk

Noel Noel Noel Noel we had to haul in our water because we had Noel.

carpetman, you are going to hell for that.

Nettles has a set of pipes, doesn't she. Very nice.

I like this rendition of Hallelujah. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZRayrio92Y

My favorite modern religious song is "You Say" by Lauren Daigle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI You don't even know God is involved until the end. If you question your worth or value, listen to what He has to say on your behalf.

Mary Did You Know-Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd

Almost a hymn , definately my favourite though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l14aDp-4NKk

Rogers & Judd; "Mary Did You Know?" Definitely worth sharing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGw8holYZr0

With tongue planted firmly in cheek, there is a difference between hymns and carols. Hymns are religious ie. the words are generally taken directly from Scripture, put to music, and the result is meant to be performed as part of a worship service to God. Carols, on the other hand, are secular in nature and while, having a theme relating a religious event, were not intended to be performed in a church, rather in homes or venues outside place of worship, sometimes even a pub!
Christmas, by the way, while "a day", is also a season, beginning on Christmas Day and ending the day before Epiphany (which is also a season). So, please continue singing Christmas Carols for the next 12 days! They are beautiful, refresh the soul, and bring out the best in us.
As Tiny Tim once said: "God Bless us, every one"!
Peter.

Kathy Mattea knows also. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwJTIhbYt0s