Silent Night Christmas Hymn - with lyrics

"Silent Night" is one of the most beloved and widely sung Christmas carols in the world. The song was originally written in German as "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" in 1816 by Joseph Mohr, a young priest, and Franz Xaver Gruber, a schoolteacher and organist. The carol was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 at St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria, with Mohr singing and Gruber playing the guitar.
The story behind its creation is quite fascinating: the church’s organ had broken down, and Mohr wrote the lyrics for a new carol to be accompanied by guitar instead of the organ. Gruber, who had already composed the melody for a different text, adapted it to fit Mohr’s words, and the result was "Silent Night." The song was an immediate success in the village, and over time, it spread throughout the world.
The carol has been translated into over 300 languages and has been performed by countless artists. Its lyrics speak of the peaceful, serene atmosphere of the night of Jesus Christ's birth, focusing on themes of calm, joy, and reverence.
Here are the opening lines of the song in English:
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.
The song's gentle melody and reflective words make it a centerpiece of Christmas Eve services and holiday celebrations around the world. Its simplicity and timeless beauty contribute to its status as a universal symbol of Christmas peace and goodwill.