The Sixth Sense 

Do you hear what I hear? A soft, gentle sigh Like a mother's lullaby Whispering low in the sky. Are these words familiar to you? I assume you've been listening to Christmas music these past couple of weeks in preparation for the upcoming holiday. And, if so, you know that these are the lyrics to a popular Christmas song.

Over the past several weeks, I've been trying to get into the Christmas spirit, but it has been challenging. Don't get me wrong, I love the season and the chance to connect with family and friends. However, I always feel a certain undertone of commercialism that has never fit with my understanding of how we treat each other during the holidays. Moreover, the idea of people spending money on gifts for me never landed with me past 14 years old.

and instead of gifts, we buy each other a cup of coffee and hang out together. Most importantly, we find that if we are not running around doing things we don't prefer, we actually enjoy the season much more.

Keep on Giving 

Listen to this

So, why the song lyrics in the first paragraph? As I was preparing to write today's blog, the music kept creeping into my conscious mind. At first, I just dismissed it as nothing. However, it kept persisting and would not leave my thinking brain. That is to say, it was trying to get my attention. So, I gave it the awareness it desired and ended up investigating the song and learning something amazing.

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" is a Christmas song with a surprisingly complex and poignant story behind it. While it's often associated with the Nativity story, its origins are deeply rooted in the uneasiness of the Cold War, specifically the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.

Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne, a married songwriting duo, were commissioned to write a B-side for a single in late 1962. However, the world was on edge. The Cuban Missile Crisis, a 13-day standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union over Soviet ballistic missiles in Cuba, threatened to plunge the world into nuclear war.

U.S. Navy Band, Capt. Ralph M. Gambone, conducts the Concert Band and Sea Chanters chorus as they sing "Do You Hear What I Hear?"

What moves you? 

As a result, the world was engaged in a climate of fear and uncertainty. Meanwhile, Regney was inspired to write a meaningful song while walking in his New York City neighborhood. Witnessing children's unbridled play painted a hopeful melody in Regney's soul, inspiring him to capture their boundless potential amidst the city's chaos. This sight, juxtaposed with the looming threat of nuclear annihilation, became the catalyst for the song's lyrics.

"Do You Hear What I Hear?" tells a story loosely based on the Nativity of Jesus, incorporating elements from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. However, unlike traditional Christmas carols, it avoids mentioning Jesus or religious figures explicitly. Instead, it focuses on the arrival of a newborn child as a symbol of hope, peace, and nonjudgment in a world teetering on the brink of destruction.

The lyrics, filled with childlike wonder and questions, ask listeners to open their ears and hearts to the message of peace and love the newborn brings. The refrain, "Do you hear what I hear?" becomes a plea for empathy and understanding, urging us to listen beyond the world's noise and embrace the possibility of a brighter future.

Only the Best

Despite its dark origin story, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" has become a beloved Christmas classic. Its message of hope and peace for humankind resonated with audiences then and continues to do so today. The song has been covered by countless artists, from Bing Crosby to Whitney Houston, and remains a staple of Christmas playlists and performances worldwide.

A Holiday Wish