I’ve read a couple of posts these last few days (here and here) which take gentle issue with the more sanitised version of Jesus birth presented in carols like Away In A Manger or Silent Night.
Well, the modern carol In A Byre Near Bethlehem / The Word Of Life is something of an antidote for those concerns.
The themes expressed are somewhat similar to the Townend/Getty song From The Squalor Of A Borrowed Stable, but the tone of the two songs is very different.
Zac Hicks and friends have recorded a raucus and rollicking version of this carol, which, in Zac’s words is:
- It is the anti-Christmas-carol Christmas carol—not sappy, schmaltzy, or sentimental.
- It vividly and accurately summarizes the life and ministry of Christ, giving the big picture context for Jesus’ birth.
- It highlights the fact that it is not only Christ’s death which is beneficial to us, but His life, too (in theological terms, both Christ’s passive and active obedience are displayed as meritorious for us). This is hammered home in the repeated phrase, “for the good of us all.”
- It is inherently communal, not individualistic. The song’s text and musical style both lend themselves to corporate—not solo—singing.
- It is vivid and earthy, not overly spiritualized (e.g. “cleared His throat and ended silence”).
- It concretizes joy. Instead of saying, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come,” it says, “And He’s here when we call Him, bringing health, love, and laughter.” Since when have we sung of laughter the result of Jesus’ presence among us?
- It is raucously celebrative—a great counterbalance to Christmas tunes that merely highlight more reverent celebration.
- It strips our inhibitions to praise with abandon. The Irish musical style naturally does this to us, and the colloquial nature of the text perfectly follows suit.
- It balances transcendence and immanence in sometimes shocking juxtaposition (e.g. “The most precious Word of Life was heard gurgling in a manger”).
Have a listen, and better yet, sing along:
(You can purchase a copy through the link in the player, or at itunes.)
The lyrics: (byre means barn, BTW)
In a byre near Bethlehem
Passed by many a wandering stranger
The most precious Word of Life
Was heard gurgling in a manger
For the good of us all
By the Galilean Lake
Where the people flocked for teaching
The most precious Word of Life
Fed their mouths as well as preaching
For the good of us all
And He’s here when we call Him
Bringing health, love, and laughter
To life now and ever after
For the good of us all
Quiet was Gethsemane
Camouflaging priest and soldier
The most precious Word of Life
Took the world’s weight on His shoulder
For the good of us all
On the hill of Calvary
Place to end all hope of living
The most precious Word of Life
Breathed His last and died, forgiving
For the good of us all
In a garden, just at dawn
Near the grave of human violence
The most precious Word of Life
Cleared His throat and ended silence
For the good of us all
Words: John L. Bell, 1987
Music: Wild Mountain Thyme, arr. Zac Hicks, 2011
©1987 Wild Goose Resource Group, Iona Community, Scotland
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