AUSTIN, TX — Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, popular Christian singer-songwriter Chris Tomlin has excitedly unveiled a brand new, completely original Christmas song titled "Silent Night."

"This new, original song is the culmination of a lot of creative thought and effort," Tomlin said in a press release announcing the song's release. "I'm proud to give my fans — and, indeed, the world at large — a fresh song for this Christmas holiday."

In a post to his Instagram, Tomlin detailed how the creation of the song came about. "I was just sitting around one day thinking about Christmas, and it dawned on me that there should be a song about the night Jesus was born. I imagined that it was a silent night, and a holy night. All must have been calm, but everything was surely so bright at the same time."

Critics were quick to point out that another song, also titled "Silent Night," already exists and has been a part of the popular Christmas songbook since it was written in 1816. Tomlin was quick to respond with an explanation to differentiate his new song. "No, mine is totally new and original," Tomlin said. "Mine has a 15-second bridge that isn't found anywhere in that other one."

Sources say the added bridge features the original lyrics:

It was a silent night, so silent!

It was a holy night, so holy!

Mother and child, so meek and lowly

You are holy

At publishing time, Tomlin had reportedly found great inspiration through the experience of writing the new song, leading him to announce plans for an entire Christmas album he would create for next year, which he has tentatively titled Chris Tomlin's Handel's Messiah.

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