December 25: Born on a New Day | The King’s Singers

I’ve been thinking about which song I wanted to be my final song on this Christmas Music blog. My mind kept going back to a song that my Dad introduced to me when I was a kid. When I heard this version, the lyrics penetrated my soul. This is, WITHOUT A DOUBT, my favorite Christmas carol! I’m not the only one who rates this carol high on their “favorite list.” The famous John Rutter chose this song as one of his five top carols from the last 20 years. (Source: John Rutter. BBC Music Magazine, Dec 08)

The lyrics for Born on a New Day were penned in 2004 by Philip Lawson (a now former member of The King’s Singers). The tune to this song is by a man named John David. Read here to find out more about how the original words and music came about.

Some things I like about this arrangement:

• I love how Christ is defined as the embodiment of meekness, love and humility. He is meekness. He is love. He is humility.
• Verse 3 is so good; notice the verb “show”; Christ is great at showing us the correct path.
• Verse 4 talks about some of Christ’s attributes; love personified; remembering the one; accepting of all people; notice the verb “bring.”
• The day one decides to follow Christ is a new day; that decision will cause one to reach higher; notice the verb “reach.”
• Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life; He heals sadness and ends strife; the chords at this part in the song are big, fat and full!
• I love the re-emphasis of Christ as “the new day”; repentance allows us to be forgiven and start over.

Because I couldn't decide on which recording to settle I'm posting both of them. I like the first one because the strings add a sweetness that the a cappella doesn't have. BUT, in the second version you can hear the vocals much better and appreciate the caliber of the singers' voices. I hope you enjoy both!

You are the New Day

You are the New Day

Meekness, love, humility

Come down to us this day:

Christ, your birth has proved to me

You are the new day.

Quiet in a stall you lie,

Angels watching in the sky

Whisper to you from on high

"You are the new day".

When our life is darkest night,

Hope has burned away;

Love, your ray of guiding light,

Show us the new day.

Love of all things great and small

Leaving none, embracing all,

Fold around me where I fall,

Bring in the new day.

This new day will be

A turning point for everyone.

If we let the Christ-child in, and

Reach for the new day.

Christ the Way, the Truth, the Life;

Healing sadness, ending strife;

You we welcome, Lord of life,

Born on a new day.

You are the new day.

Merry Christmas from the Stewart & Lindsey Campbell family!