Isley Christmas Medley: The First Noel/What Child Is This/Gloria In Excelsis

Song Meaning

The medley opens by painting a humble, stark scene: "poor shepards in fields" on a "cold winter's night." This quiet setting quickly gives way to the grand declaration, "Born is the King of Israel!" It immediately establishes a contrast between the mundane and the miraculous. The lyrics then shift to a tender, questioning tone with "What child is this" who "On Mary's lap is sleeping." This rhetorical question invites contemplation of the infant's innocence, only to be answered with the profound revelation, "Oh this is Christ the king." This tension between vulnerability and divine power drives the emotional core. The medley skillfully uses different forms of praise to build its impact. While "shepherds watch are keeping" and later "shepherds guard," the "angels greet with anthems sweet" and "angels sing." This dual perspective highlights both earthly reverence and heavenly adoration, culminating in the urgent call to "Haste, haste to bring him praise." The Latin "Gloria in excelsis deo" further elevates this sense of universal worship. The power of these lyrics lies in their progression from intimate observation to cosmic celebration. Starting with a specific, grounded image of a "cold winter's night," they expand to encompass "Heaven, and nature sing" in "Joy to the world." This movement from a quiet, humble beginning to an all-encompassing declaration of joy makes the narrative feel both deeply personal and universally significant.