When a Child is Born

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When a Child is Born (Soleado) was a popular single by Johnny Mathis.

Written by Fred Jay and Di Damicco Siro, the song has became something of a Christmas standard with numerous cover versions from artists as diverse as Kenny Rogers, Bing Crosby, The Moody Blues, Cissy Houston, Willie Nelson, Tarja Turunen and many others.

The most successful version is probably the Jack Gold produced version for Johnny Mathis which was his sole number one single in the UK, spending three weeks at the top of the chart in December 1976 and selling 850,000 copies.

Although the song is regarded as a Christmas song, it does not actually make any specific mention of Christmas in its lyrics. However, the importance attached to the birth of a child lends itself to an obvious association with the birth of Jesus Christ, and the reference in the lyrics to "a tiny star" which "lights up way up high" would seem to be an allusion to the Star of Bethlehem.

The hummed beginning of the song was used as the basis for a dance record by the German producer Mark'Oh, entitled "Tears Don't Lie", a hit throughout much of Europe in 1995. As it was unconnected to Christmas and not released at that time of year, anyone who knows the melody principally from this track may not necessarily associate it with Christmas.

A French version of the song exists, with lyrics written by Henri Dijan that are also totally unrelated to Christmas. Its title is "On ne vit pas sans se dire adieu" (literally "we do not live without saying goodbye to each other"), and it was recorded by the French singer Mireille Mathieu in 1975.

Preceded by "Under the Moon of Love" by Showaddywaddy

UK number one single December 25, 1976

Succeeded by "Don't Give Up On Us" by David Soul