Song Meaning
This song paints a tender, intimate portrait of the very first Christmas, focusing on the profound wonder of the scene. It opens with the familiar biblical narrative of angels announcing the birth to shepherds, grounding the moment in a specific, cold, and deep winter night. The lyrics immediately shift to a direct address to the "beautiful baby," creating a sense of personal connection and awe. The core of the song lies in the narrator's contemplation of the infant's identity and destiny.
The central tension arises from the narrator's questioning of the baby's awareness of his own divine mission and the future suffering it entails. Phrases like "Do you know who you are" and "Do You know the price You'll pay" highlight the immense weight of the moment, juxtaposing the infant's vulnerability with the cosmic significance of his birth. This questioning underscores the human desire to comprehend the unfathomable plan unfolding.
The most striking craft element is the persistent, gentle repetition of "First Christmas day," acting as a refrain that anchors the listener in this singular, transformative event. The lyrics also masterfully blend the grand pronouncements of "mighty kings" and "angels sing" with the humble "lowly shepherds" and the "hay" of the manger, emphasizing the inclusive nature of this divine arrival. The direct address to the baby, "Beautiful Baby," fosters an immediate emotional resonance.
Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they capture a feeling of profound, almost overwhelming, love and mystery. By focusing on the simple images of the baby, the mother, and the manger, while simultaneously hinting at the "Father's plan" and the "wondrous Love," the song invites listeners to share in the narrator's hopeful, yet questioning, gaze. It’s this blend of the earthly and the divine, the known and the unknowable, that makes the "First Christmas day" feel so deeply moving and significant.