Do You Hear What I Hear? (Original Version) - YouTube

1962 Original: Do You Hear What I Hear.
The song was originally recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale.

The song portrays a message being passed up the chain of command. The message is ambiguous but implies the birth of Jesus Christ. The message originates in the song when the Night Sky whispers it to a lamb. The lamb reports the message to his shepherd, who in turn escalates the matter to the king. The king eventually disseminates the message to the "people everywhere." Note that in each verse, the messages is slightly modified, in a similar fashion to the game of Telephone.

[edit] Lyrics

Said the night wind to the little lamb, "Do you see what I see?

'Way up in the sky, little lamb, do you see what I see?

A star, a star, dancing in the night,

With a tail as big as a kite, with a tail as big as a kite."

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, "Do you hear what I hear?

Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy, do you hear what I hear?

A song, a song, high above the tree,

With a voice as big as the sea, with a voice as big as the sea."

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, "Do you know what I know?

In your palace warm, mighty king, do you know what I know?

A Child, a Child, shivers in the cold;

Let us bring Him silver and gold, let us bring Him silver and gold."

Said the king to the people ev'rywhere, "Listen to what I say!

Pray for peace, people ev'rywhere, listen to what I say!

The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night;

He will bring us goodness and light, He will bring us goodness and light."