Silent night, Joseph Mohr



Sometimes one line is all that matters. 

“Silent Night” is painful to sing, listen and play. It’s always performed in a drearily slow 6/8 tempo that many artists find difficult to break. As a drummer, I hate this song. 

For any musos reading this, here’s musical challenge #1: Create a version of this song in another tempo 

And then there’s the big idea of the song. I’ve been at the birth of my two children. That day and night were anything but silent. 

I can't even get past the second line. The night Jesus was born was neither holy or calm… 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel appeared to them and they were terrified… 

The shepherds were kicking back, asking, “How’s the serenity?” when the angel rocks up causing them to poo their pants. Or robes, as the case may be.

Surely Mary and Joseph were at peace. Nope, they too freaked out... 

The angel went said to her, “Greetings!” Mary was greatly troubled at his words… 
The angel said to Joseph, “Do not be afraid…” 

Even the big wig in town is pooing his pants. Or robes as the case may be… 

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him...

Thanks baby Jesus for scaring the life out of your parents, shepherds, a king and a whole city. 

Musical challenge #2: Write a carol that references fear

So is there anything I love about this song? 

Yep. The last line grabs me every time… 

Jesus, lord at thy birth  

The fact that it’s the last line means I've got to listen, sing or play the whole crummy tune to get to it.

Which is a bit like life. There may be crappy things to get through. Yet through it all, Jesus is lord. 

 And this one little line has become a comfort to me through my crummy times. When I've been scared like those shepherds or have no idea what's going on like those parents, I've held onto knowing he is lord.

Musical challenge #3: Write a song about how Jesus is lord

"Someone already has Costa. It's called Silent Night..."

Okay, okay, I'll keep singing, listening and playing this dreary tune. 

Sometimes, just one line is all that matters.

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