IsabelC Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I am typing up our song lyrics for the girls to use in a Christmas concert, and of all things, I am stuck on Silent Night. The words I was given have the line 'Radient beams from Thy holy face', but I always thought the first word was 'Radiance'. Is my memory wrong (maybe I'm just trying to make it sound more grammatical, because it sounds like a subject without a verb)? This is the only place I can ask and be sure that there will be somebody who doesn't just respond with 'Who cares'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenaj Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Just looked it up. Our hymnbook that we use at our little church says "radient". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 That line is not a complete phrase. The phrase starts in the line above and reads "love's pure light radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace." So the subject of the phrase is "love's pure light" and the verb is "beams" and "radiant" is an adjective that was shoved out of place by the need to rhyme. (It should be "love's pure radiant light.") 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 radient 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strange_girl Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Pretty sure its 'radiant'. Or at least I've always seen/sung it that way. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 It's radiant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsabelC Posted October 27, 2015 Author Share Posted October 27, 2015 That line is not a complete phrase. The phrase starts in the line above and reads "love's pure light radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace." So the subject of the phrase is "love's pure light" and the verb is "beams" and "radiant" is an adjective that was shoved out of place by the need to rhyme. (It should be "love's pure radiant light.") AH, thank you so much! It suddenly makes sense now, and I can stop hearing it as 'wrong'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I remember it as radiant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 None of the lines are complete sentences. In poetry some words are implied. (It's a) Silent night,(and a) holy night, (O) Son of God, (who is) love's pure light; (There are) Radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of reeding grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. I agree. It's a song lyric (and one that's been translated at that), so poetic license should be granted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 Just for fun, here is a literal translation from the German: http://german.about.com/library/blstillenachtB.htm 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 These "ignore" threads are the best; they compel me to come on over and say something stupid and trite. :o 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 "Ignore this" ???...don't tell *me* what to do!! ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 I don't understand why you would change the title even if the question was answered. It's not like the question is suddenly irrelevant or somehow invisible because you changed the title. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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