O Little Town of Bethlehem

Words: Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)
Music: Lewis Redner (1831-1908)

Although not a professional poet, Phillips Brooks could write a hymn, a carol or a poem with almost effortless ease. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he came from a Christian family which excelled both academically and musically. Even as a child, Phillips was always singing, and by the time he was 16 years old, he knew 200 songs by heart!

As a young man, he was a miserable failure in his first position as a Latin professor, and it was only when he surrendered himself wholly and completely to God, that he found his calling in life.
At the age of 24, Brooks was ordained a pastor, and took charge of a church in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Although he remained a bachelor all his life, Brooks was especially fond of children. It is said that he kept a supply of toys, dolls and other objects of interest to children in his study so that youngsters would be encouraged to drop in and chat with him. A familiar sight was this important man sitting on the floor of his study, having a fun time with a group of children.

Brooks was especially interested in Sunday School music. He loved to hear children sing, and so it's not surprising that he wrote his best song for them, the story of which is as follows:

In 1865, Brooks made a trip to Palestine. The experience found the 33-year-old Brooks with his travelling party in Bethlehem during Christmas week. The trip made an unforgettable impression upon him, but the song he was eventually to write as a result of his travels was almost three years away.

Three years later as Brooks prepared his Christmas program and services, he reflected upon his visit to the Holy Land three years earlier, the impressions and inspiration of which seemed to be permanently stamped upon his heart. The still vivid memory moved the pastor-poet to express his feelings and sentiments in a lovely poem, written especially with the children of his parish 24 in mind. He captured the mystery of that first Christmas in a carol which began with these lines:

"O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The Everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight."

--And in the last stanza, Brooks prayed that the Holy Child of Bethlehem would be born anew in each heart.

The following day when Mr. Lewis Redner, the church organist and also the Sunday School superintendent, came into the minister's study, Brooks handed him a piece of paper on which he had written a copy of this new poem.

"Lewis," he said to his friend and co-worker, "why not write a new tune for my poem?"

Redner smiled as he glanced over the five stanzas and replied, "I'll do what I can, Phillips." Brooks urged Redner to do what he could as quickly as possible, since the Christmas services were only days away!

Although he had ample time in which to compose a suitable tune, Redner delayed until it was almost too late. When Brooks questioned him about the tune, Redner gave the pastor the age-old answer of frustrated composers, "No inspiration!"

Upon retiring, the night before Brooks had planned for a group of children to introduce the song, Redner had still not come up with a single line of music. During the night, Redner suddenly awakened from his sleep, the new tune ringing in his ears! He jotted the melody down as rapidly as he could and then went back to bed for a few hours of contented and undisturbed sleep.

Very early the next morning, he harmonized his original melody, declaring that it "was a gift from Heaven." A group of six Sunday School teachers and thirty-six children sang it from newly printed leaflets on December 27, 1868. Brooks, sitting in the back of the room, was thrilled to hear the children sing his song. The carol was an immediate favorite with everyone--especially the children.

Brooks passed away on January 23, 1893, in his 58th year. He was loved by all who came in contact with him, and his sudden death was greatly mourned by everyone who knew him. The story is told of a five-year-old girl who was upset because she hadn't seen her preacher friend for several days. When told by her mother that Dr. Bishop Phillips Brooks had gone to Heaven, the child exclaimed, "Oh, Mama, how happy the angels will be!"


O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
And, gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.