Silent Night Lyrics
"Silent Night" (originally "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht") is one of the most beloved and widely recognized Christmas carols in the world. Written in 1818 in the small Austrian village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg, this peaceful hymn has been translated into over 300 languages and is sung by millions during the Christmas season. Its serene melody and contemplative lyrics capture the quiet wonder of Christ's birth, making it a timeless treasure of Christmas music.
Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia Christ the Savior is born Christ the Savior is born Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus Lord, at Thy birth Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
History and Background
The story of "Silent Night" is as remarkable as the carol itself. On Christmas Eve 1818, Father Joseph Mohr, a young priest at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria, wrote the German poem "Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht." The church's organ had broken down, and Father Mohr needed a song that could be performed with just a guitar. He brought his poem to Franz Xaver Gruber, the church organist and local schoolmaster, who composed a simple melody that could be accompanied by guitar.
That very evening, December 24, 1818, "Silent Night" was performed for the first time during Midnight Mass. Father Mohr sang tenor, Gruber sang bass, and the choir repeated the last two lines of each verse. The guitar accompaniment gave the carol its distinctive gentle character that has remained to this day.
The carol might have remained a local tradition if not for Karl Mauracher, an organ builder who came to repair the church organ. He obtained a copy of the song and brought it back to his home in the Zillertal valley. From there, two traveling families of folk singers, the Rainers and the Strassers, discovered the song and began performing it across Europe, eventually bringing it to audiences as far as Russia and America.
The English translation most commonly sung today was created by John Freeman Young, an Episcopal priest, in 1859. Young's translation beautifully captures the essence of the original German while adapting it for English-speaking congregations. His version has become the definitive English text of this beloved carol.
UNESCO Recognition
In 2011, UNESCO recognized "Silent Night" as an intangible cultural heritage, acknowledging its profound impact on Christmas traditions worldwide. The carol has been declared a treasure of Austria's cultural heritage, and the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf (built on the site of the original St. Nicholas Church, which was demolished in 1906) has become a pilgrimage site for visitors from around the world.
The song has been recorded by countless artists across every musical genre and has been adapted into numerous arrangements, from simple acoustic versions to grand orchestral settings. Despite these variations, the carol's essential character—its peaceful, contemplative nature—has remained unchanged for over two centuries.
Memorizing Silent Night
"Silent Night" consists of three verses, each following a similar structure that makes memorization easier:
- Verse 1: Sets the peaceful scene of the holy night with Mary and the infant Jesus
- Verse 2: Describes the shepherds witnessing the heavenly announcement
- Verse 3: Reflects on the divine nature of Christ and the grace of his birth
Each verse ends with a repeated line that reinforces its central message. The gentle, repetitive structure and soothing melody make this one of the easier carols to commit to memory. Practice with the Lines app to master all three verses and carry this beautiful tradition forward.