Silent Night – English Lyrics

• By: Kelly Clarkson

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of "Silent Night" through Kelly Clarkson's exquisite rendition, featuring Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood. This version is a masterclass in vocal harmony and a beautiful example of how a traditional carol can be reinterpreted with country and gospel inflections, making it a perfect song to appreciate the nuances of English lyrics and powerful storytelling through music. Its serene message and stunning delivery make it a special and moving listen.

[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

Silent night, holy night

Shepherds pray at the sight

Glory streams from heaven afar (heaven afar)

Heavenly host sing hallelujah (hallelujah)

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 (Thy holy face)

With the dawn of redeeming grace (redeeming grace)

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Silent night, holy night

All is calm and all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child

Holy infant, so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace

Sleep in heavenly peace

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
silent /ˈsaɪlənt/ A1	adjective - completely quiet
holy /ˈhoʊli/ B2	adjective - dedicated to religious purposes
calm /kɑːm/ B1	adjective - not excited or upset
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - giving off a lot of light
virgin /ˈvɜːrdʒɪn/ C1	adjective - being in a pure or natural state noun - a person who has never had sexual intercourse
mother /ˈmʌðər/ A1	noun - a female parent
child /tʃaɪld/ A1	noun - a young human being
infant /ˈɪnfənt/ B1	noun - a very young child
tender /ˈtendər/ B2	adjective - showing gentleness and concern
mild /maɪld/ B2	adjective - gentle and not easily provoked
heavenly /ˈhevənli/ C1	adjective - of or relating to heaven
peace /piːs/ A2	noun - freedom from disturbance
shepherds /ˈʃepərdz/ B1	noun - people who take care of sheep
pray /preɪ/ A2	verb - to speak to God
glory /ˈɡlɔːri/ B2	noun - high honor or praise
streams /striːmz/ B1	verb - to flow in a steady stream
savior /ˈseɪviər/ C1	noun - a person who saves someone from danger
radiant /ˈreɪdiənt/ C1	adjective - sending out light
grace /ɡreɪs/ B2	noun - divine assistance
redeeming /rɪˈdiːmɪŋ/ C2	adjective - compensating for faults

Key Grammar Structures

• Silent night, holy night

  ➔ Adjective order

  ➔ Adjectives like "silent" and "holy" precede the noun "night".

• All is calm, all is bright

  ➔ Subject-verb agreement with "all"

  ➔ "All" acts as a plural subject here, taking the singular verb form "is" (representing a state of being).

• Round yon virgin mother and child

  ➔ Prepositional phrase

  ➔ "Round" (meaning "around") acts as a preposition, setting up the prepositional phrase "round yon virgin mother and child."

• Sleep in heavenly peace

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The verb "sleep" is in the imperative mood, giving a command or making a wish.

• Glory streams from heaven afar (heaven afar)

  ➔ Subject-verb inversion

  ➔ The subject "glory" follows the verb "streams" for emphasis (less strict than standard inversion).

• Heavenly host sing hallelujah (hallelujah)

  ➔ Present Simple tense with plural subject

  ➔ The verb "sing" is in the present simple tense, agreeing with the plural subject "host".

• Christ, the savior is born

  ➔ Appositive phrase

  ➔ "the savior" is an appositive phrase, restating and identifying "Christ".

• Son of God love's pure light

  ➔ Possessive case

  ➔ "love's" indicates possession; the pure light that belongs to love.