Do You Hear What I Hear?

Christmas Carol Lyrics

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
"Do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see?
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite,
With a tail as big as a kite."

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
"Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear?
A song, a song high above the trees
With a voice as big as the the sea,
With a voice as big as the the sea."

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
"Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know?
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold--
Let us bring him silver and gold,
Let us bring him silver and gold."

Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere,
Listen to what I say!
The Child, the Child sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light,
He will bring us goodness and light."

About This Carol

Do You Hear What I Hear? may sound like a timeless Christmas standard, but it was actually written during a very specific and tense moment in history. The song was composed in 1962 by Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne Baker, a husband-and-wife songwriting team, as a plea for peace during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. At a time when fear and uncertainty filled the air, the couple turned to the Christmas story to deliver a hopeful message wrapped in poetic imagery.

Unlike many traditional carols, this song unfolds as a gentle chain of communication - from the night wind to the lamb, from the shepherd boy to the mighty king, and finally to “people everywhere.” Each verse builds upon the last, urging the listener to look, listen, and ultimately seek peace.

The first major recording was by the Harry Simeone Chorale in 1962, but it was Bing Crosby’s 1963 version (see the video below) that propelled the song into the mainstream. Since then, it has been covered by dozens of artists across genres, from Whitney Houston to Carrie Underwood, each bringing their own interpretation to its stirring melody and message.

Do You Hear What I Hear? stands out not only for its modern origin but for its emotional depth. It’s a song that bridges Christmas with a longing for peace, making it as relevant now as it was when it first echoed across a world in crisis.

Performance Video

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