The Darkest Midnight (feat. Bono)

[slaneman]

from the Michael W. Smith album, The Spirit of Christmas

The Darkest Midnight (read by Bono)

The darkest midnight in December
No snow, nor hail, no winter storm
Shall hinder for us to remember
The Babe on this night was born

With shepherds we are come to see
This lovely Infant's glorious charms
Born of a maid as the prophets said
The God of love in Mary's arms

Ye blessed angels join our voices
Let your gilded wings beat fluttering o'er
While every soul set free rejoices
And everyone must adore

We'll sing and pray that God as always
May our friends and family defend
God grant us grace in all our days
Merry Christmas and a happy end

We'll sing and pray that God always
May our friends and family defend
God grant us grace in all our days
A Merry Christmas and a happy end

[Aaron]

I haven't heard the whole thing yet, just the snippet at iTunes.  Is it just Bono's voice throughout or is he more the introduction to a musical piece?

[slaneman]

There's some Irish flute and synth background atmosphere going on and Bono reads in a whisper and that's the whole piece. It lasts 1:39, and as you know, you have to buy the complete album for this song while all the others you can buy singly. Gosh, I wonder why they did that. Eh, Michael?

Bono sounds like he did the reading after a night at the pubs, so be fore warned.

Fortunately I'm a huge sucker for Christmas music. But as a U2 collector you can appreciate the irony of being given a great album free and then being forced to buy a whole album for this track. 

The other tracks are actual songs and much better. 

[Aaron]

I didn't know it was so short.  Oh well.  I was going to buy the CD anyway and it's on its' way.  No way I'm buying a digital copy of the album too...