While You Were Sleeping

by Casting Crowns
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How to Play This Song

Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Lyrics

Oh lit tle (Csus)town of Beth le hem,

looks like an (Bb)oth er si lent night.

A bove your deep and dream less sleep, a gi ant star lights up the sky.

And while you’re ly ing in the dark,

there (Bb)shines an ev er last ing light,

for the King has left His throne,

and is (Bb)sleep ing in a man ger to night,

to night.

Oh Beth le hem, what you have missed while you were sleep ing, for (F)God be came a man and (C)stepped in to your world to day.

Oh Beth le hem, you (C)will go down in his to ry

as a (F)cit y with no room (C)for its King.

While you were sleep ing.

While you were sleep ing.

Oh lit tle (Csus)town of Je (C)ru sa lem, looks like an (Bb)oth er si lent night.

The (F)Fa ther gave His on ly Son; the (Dm)Way, the Truth, the Life had come.

But there (F)was no room for Him

in the (Dm)world He came to save.

U nit ed (Csus)States of A (C)mer i ca, looks like an (Bb)oth er si lent night,

as we’re sung to sleep by phi (C)los o phies that save the trees and kill the chil dren.

And while we’re ly ing in the dark,

there’s a (Bb)shout heard ’cross the east ern sky,

for the Bride groom has re turned

and has (Bb)car ried His bride a way in the night,

in the night.

A mer ri ca, what will we miss while we are sleep ing?

Will (F)Je sus come a gain and (C)leave us slum b’ring where we lay?

A mer i ca, will (C)we go down in his to ry

as a (F)na tion with no room (C)for its King?

Will we be sleep ing?

Will we be sleep ing?

U nit ed (Csus)States of A (C)mer i ca, looks like an (Bb)oth er si lent night.

While You Were Sleeping — Karaoke: Lyrics & Chords to Sing & Play Along

4 people have learned this song

Free karaoke for "While You Were Sleeping" by Casting Crowns: lyrics on screen with the chords above each line and a bouncing ball that lands on every word in time. Sing along, or play along on guitar or piano from the chord chart. Change the key to fit your voice, slow the tempo down. Key of F, 76 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “While You Were Sleeping”

What key is "While You Were Sleeping" by Casting Crowns played in?
While You Were Sleeping is arranged in the key of F on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "While You Were Sleeping"?
The arrangement plays at 76 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "While You Were Sleeping" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "While You Were Sleeping"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "While You Were Sleeping"?
"While You Were Sleeping" was originally performed by Casting Crowns. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "While You Were Sleeping"?
This arrangement uses 7 chords: Bb, Bbsus2, C, Csus4, Dm, Dm7, F.
What other songs by Casting Crowns can I play here?
Try "Who Am I", "VOICE OF TRUTH", "WHAT IF HIS PEOPLE PRAYED". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is there a karaoke version of "While You Were Sleeping" with lyrics?
Yes — this is a free karaoke slide for "While You Were Sleeping" by Casting Crowns. The lyrics appear on screen a line at a time and each word lights up exactly when it's sung, with a bouncing ball leading you word to word. A backing plays underneath so you can just sing.
Does it show chords so I can play along on guitar or piano?
It does — a chord symbol sits on a thin row just above the lyric it changes on, so the same screen doubles as a lyrics-and-chords chart. Guitarists can strum the changes and pianists can comp while singing; the chords are colour-coded and move with the live transpose if you change key.
Can I change the key of "While You Were Sleeping" to match my voice or capo?
Yes. The original is in F, but the live transpose control shifts the whole song up or down semitones until the melody sits in your range (or maps to an easier guitar shape / capo position) — the on-screen chords and the backing move with it.
Can I slow "While You Were Sleeping" down to learn the words and chords?
Yes — the tempo control lets you take it as slow as you need while the lyrics still light up in time and the ball keeps you on the beat. Speed it back up once you can sing and play it through.