Original vs. Peg Luke: “Mary Did You Know”
Peg Luke steps into a long and meaningful musical tradition with her newest release, “Mary Did You Know,” offering a serene and spiritually rich interpretation of a song that has become a modern Christmas essential. While her version highlights expressive flute work and gentle orchestral colors, the original carries its own unique history and emotional weight. Taken together, both versions reveal why this song continues to touch listeners year after year. To understand what makes Peg Luke’s approach meaningful, we first need to revisit how “Mary, Did You Know?” originally came into existence. The lyrics were written in 1984 by Mark Lowry, who imagined what he would ask Mary if he could speak with her face-to-face. These questions, about her newborn son’s miracles, his divinity, and his purpose, formed the heart of the text. Several years later, musician Buddy Greene composed the melody, giving the words a contemplative, hymn-like tone. The first official recording came in 1991 when Michael English released the song, introducing it to the world as part of the contemporary Christian music movement. From there, the song grew far beyond church stages and quickly became a holiday staple, recorded by artists across genres including gospel, country, and… Read More →
