A SONGWRITERS STUDY OF "OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM"

A SONGWRITERS STUDY OF "OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM"

I was so inspired by Phillips Brooks' song OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM written in 1868, I wanted to do an evaluation of the song.   After Brooks visited the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, he wanted to write a song for the children's Christmas program at his church. He  was so moved my his experience in Bethlehem that he completed the lyrics in one evening. Then he asked his organist Lewis R. Redner to compose a melody that the children could sing.  On the evening before the program Redner woke up suddenly from a dream with the melody in his head and he quickly wrote it down.  A Hebrew word study of the meaning of the name of Bethlehem is a combination of two Hebrew words. Beth means the House and the Hebrew word Lehem means of Bread. The “House of Bread” [footnote 1]  Jesus is the one who said “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."

So, in reviewing the song I find such a glorious Christmas message beautifully phrased set within a perfect melody.  Here are my thoughts about the song:

1. O little town of Bethlehem          Talking to the town?  How interesting sets up next line
How still we see thee lie                  The set up is present day, the last note is not resolved
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep    Time passing peacefully with inner rhymes
The silent stars go by                         This last note resolves here before a melodic change
Yet in thy dark streets shineth                 A minor note here brings about sense of conflict
The everlasting Light                              This is line gives us a counter point to the darkness
The hopes and fears of all the years        Inner rhymes adding more conflict
Are met in thee tonight                            This resolution is an answer to the conflict

2. For Christ is born of Mary         2nd verse adds more to the plot that's set up by verse 1
And gathered all above                            Not clear but explained in next line
While mortals sleep, the angels keep       Humanity was not aware of God's plan
Their watch of wondering love                God becoming man was even amazing to Angels
O morning stars together                          Interesting line that the stars worship Him                            
Proclaim the holy birth                            Did the stars announce His Birth?
And praises sing to God the King           proclaiming the Holiness and future reign of Jesus
And Peace to men on earth                     This peace will come about in His future Kingdom

3. O holy Child of Bethlehem                Verse 3 addresses Jesus in the present day  

Descend to us, we pray                         Our only future hope that Jesus come again 

Cast out our sin and enter in                 This is the salvation prayer to be born again
Be born to us today                               The time is now to accept Christ as your savior
We hear the Christmas angels              We can still hear this message every year
The great glad tidings tell                      We also call tell others about Jesus
O come to us, abide with us                 Asking the Holy Spirit in is what it's all about
Our Lord Emmanuel                              His name is God with us 

                                                              Verse 3 is the culmination of the whole song

This is a fascinating further study on the name of Bethlehem
1.  Hebrew Word Study website