Mike West: Some reflections on ‘Beautiful Star of Bethlehem’ on The Murfreesboro Post

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Mike West: Some reflections on ‘Beautiful Star of Bethlehem’

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By: MIKE WEST, Managing Editor

Posted: Sunday, December 21, 2008 7:38 am

Not so many years ago, you could buy fresh produce at the Ideal Fruit Market on Murfreesboro’s West College Street.

Besides apples and other fresh fruit, you could also buy a “single” of a song written by Fisher Boyce.

It was, admittedly, an odd place to sell a record called “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.” But Boyce operated the fruit stand along with M.B. Carlton.

While Boyce slipped into obscurity, his song has been recorded worldwide and is one of the most popular “modern” Christmas hymns.

The late MTSU professor Charles Wolfe, a world-recognized authority on country and gospel music, said it was the most significant piece of music to come out of Rutherford County with the exception of Uncle Dave Macon’s music.

It took a performance of the song by the Judds at the White House on a nationally broadcast Bob Hope Christmas Special to raise awareness of the song. Bluegrass star Ralph Stanley, Emmylou Harris, Ricky Scaggs, Patty Loveless and even folk rocker Neal Young have recorded the song since.

Raised in the Link community out past Rockvale, Boyce was living on a dairy farm near Gum when he penned the song in the quiet of the milk barn.

The song’s fame came following Boyce’s death in 1968.

It’s beauty remains:

Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shining afar through shadows dim
Giving the light for those who long have gone
Guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem (Beautiful, beautiful star)
Of Bethlehem (Star of Bethlehem)
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us the light to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on
Oh beautiful star, the hope of life
Guiding the pilgrims through the night
Over the mountains till the break of dawn into the light
Of perfect day it will give out a lovely ray
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on
Oh beautiful star, the hope of rest
For the redeemed, the good and the blest
Yonder in glory when the crown is won
Where Jesus is now the star divine
Brighter and brighter he will shine
Oh beautiful star of Bethlehem, shine on

Naturally, some scholars question the Christian tradition about the Christmas Star (Star of Bethlehem) that revealed the birth of Jesus to the wise men from the East. The story is told in the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 2:1-2: In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." (NRSV)

Matthew 2:7-10: Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.

Matthew 2:12: And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the magi were inspired by the appearance of the star to travel to Jerusalem where they met King Herod of Judea and asked where the king of the Jews had been born.

The story remains a Christmas favorite and is the focus of many more songs, holiday plays and manger scenes.

It can be said that the Star of Bethlehem was the first Christmas light ... or brite, which is a topic of beauty and hope we enjoy sharing annually with readers of the Murfreesboro Post.

Tagged under VOICES

Member Opinions:

By: acdsrool on 12/24/08
Thanks, Mike, for this story! Some years ago my Dad sang with B.C. Boyce, Fisher's son, so he of course knew Fisher. What a wonderful Christian family they were and talk about singing...whew, those fellas had some pipes! Merry Christmas!