Do You Hear What I Hear?
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"Do You Hear What I Hear?" is a Christmas song written in October 1962 with lyrics by Noel Regney and music written by Gloria Shayne Baker.[1] Do You Hear What I Hear? was written by Regney and Baker, who were married at the time, as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis.[2] Since it was first written Do You Hear What I Hear? has sold tens of millions of copies and has been covered by hundreds of different artists.[2]
[edit] Songwriting
Noel Regney wrote the lyrics for the song, while Gloria Shayne Baker composed the Christmas carol's music in October 1962.[2] This was an unusual arrangement for the two writers. Usually it was Baker who wrote the lyrics for their songs while Regney composed the music, as they did on their classic children's song Rain Rain Go Away. [1] [2]
Regney was inspired to write the lyrics, "Said the night wind to the little lamb, 'Do you see what I see?' " and "Pray for peace, people everywhere," after watching babies being pushed in strollers on the sidewalks of New York City. [1] Baker stated in an interview years later that neither could personally perform the entire song at the time they wrote it because of the emotions surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis.[1] "Our little song broke us up. You must realize there was a threat of nuclear war at the time." [1]
[edit] Recording
Do You Hear What I Hear? was released shortly after Thanksgiving in 1962. [1] The song was originally recorded by Harry Simeone Chorale.[1] It went on to sell more than quarter-million copies during the 1962 Christmas holiday season.[1]
However, it was Bing Crosby who made the song a worldwide smash hit when he recorded his own version of the recording of Do You Hear What I Hear? in 1963.[1] Crosby recorded the carol for Capitol Records on November 22, 1963 and released a week and a half later on a then-new Christmas album. Over the years, Crosby's recording of the song has been widely played on the radio. The original version has been available on numerous compilation Christmas albums and compact discs put out by Capitol Records.
The song was later recorded in diverse ways by hundreds of different artists as varied as Perry Como,[2] Pat Boone,[2] Mahalia Jackson,[2] Whitney Houston,[2] Jim Nabors,[2] Kate Smith,[2] John Tesh,[2] the United States Air Force Symphony Orchestra,[2] the Tropical Flavor Steel Drum Band,[2] Bob Hope,[2] Glen Campbell,[2] Robert Goulet,[2] Johnny Mathis,[2] Kenny G,[2], the House of Wires, the Hampton String Quartet, Andy Williams, Vanessa Williams, The Carpenters, Anne Murray, Gladys Knight, Copeland, David Arkenstone, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Delta Goodrem, Linda Eder, Ed Ames, Destiny's Child, Flyleaf, Jim Brickman, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Anthony Way and Rosie O' Donnell (with special guest Elmo).
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Noland, Claire. "Gloria Shayne Baker, 84; helped write 'Do You Hear What I Hear?'", Los Angeles Times, 2008-03-15. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Fox, Margalit. "Gloria Shayne Baker, Composer and Lyricist, Dies at 84", The New York Times, 2008-03-11. Retrieved on 2008-03-23.
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