Morning Song – O Holy Night

We’ve never heard a better version of “O Holy Night”.

The first hint of its greatness comes at 00:09 when the uncredited pianist throws some gospel chords into the the intro. Next is Irma Thomas’ voice—full, rich, resonant, wise—which makes you wonder anew at the capricious injustices of the world (in this case, that she never enjoyed the fame and fortune of contemporaries like Aretha, Dionne, Etta, and Gladys) and at the unconquerable human spirit.

Finally, there’s the way Thomas cuts John Sullivan Dwight’s 1855 second verse entirely and goes straight to the proto-liberation theology third verse(which Dwight got from Placide Cappeau’s original 1843 French lyrics).

An unauthorized baby is born; let the powers that be tremble as a weary world rejoices.

Same as it ever was.