Best of New Christmas Music: Do You Hear What I Hear by Gentri

Do You Hear What I Hear is not really all that old of a Christmas song. But it is a classic and one that has been covered twice this year by Gentri, who we admit have become one of our perennial Christmas favs:

That video above is the live studio version with Bri Ray — and it is a stunner, no?

But don’t forget this other version, featuring the kids telling the Nativity story:

Both of these versions are worthy of our attention — for both their musicality and they message.

The song was born in the fall of 1962, a troubled time if there ever was one. It was a tense time, a time when the world was on the verge of war. It is an anthem for peace, which is, of course, at the very core of the message of Christmas:

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 trees
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 everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
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

It has become something of a tradition to feature Gentri each year during these “Best of Christmas music” features. The reason we do this each year is pretty simple: these men have the Spirit of Christmas and great talent in bringing for a wonderful message in music.

We want them to know we DO hear them. And we’re grateful.