[11] In 1962, the full-length version was also added to a re-issue of Belafonte's previously released album To Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Belafonte re-recorded the song with the London Symphony Orchestra and the American Boy Choir for Hallmark's The Tradition of Christmas in 1991.

[12] One of the best-known cover versions of the song is from the German-based disco-group Boney M. from 1978, "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord.

Other recordings include The Gospel Clefs in (1973), Evie (1977), Anne Murray, The Brothers Four, Greg MacDonald, The Lettermen (1966), The Merrymen, Jim Reeves (1963), Rolf Harris (1970), Roger Whittaker, The Little River Band, The Three Degrees, The Pete King Chorale, Nina & Frederik, Carola, Vikingarna, Kiri Te Kanawa (1984), José Mari Chan (1990), Al Bano and Romina Power (1991), De Nattergale (1991), Tom Jones (1993), Jose Feliciano, John Denver (1990), Cranberry Singers (1998), and the cast of Glee (2013), RJ Jacinto (2015), Harry Connick Jr, Bryn Terfel, Connie Talbot and many others.

The Bee Gees recorded the song as part of a medley with "Silent Night" for their 1968 album Horizontal, although it was only officially released as a bonus track in 2006.

Translated versions include "Hankien Joulu" recorded by Georg Malmstén, "Kauan Sitten Beetlehem" recorded by Petri Laaksonen (fi), "Marian Poika" by Tarja Turunen, "Varje människa har ett ljus" recorded by Jan Malmsjö,[18] "...und Frieden für die Welt" by Rolf Zuckowski, "Maria's Kind" by La Esterella, "Bethlehem" by Rob de Nijs, "Det hände sig för länge sen" recorded by Kikki Danielsson on her 1987 Christmas album Min barndoms jular,[19] "Det hände sig för länge sen" recorded by Stefan Borsch on his 1981 Christmas album I kväll jag tänder ett ljus,[20] "Himlens hemlighet" recorded by Tommy Körberg and "Du är som en sommardag" by dance band Schytts.

The words and music featured on a miniature sheet issued with the 1983 Christmas stamps of the Caribbean island of St Kitts,[22] while the adjacent island of Nevis issued a complementary sheet featuring the "Calypso Carol".

The tune is used as the basis for a widespread chant used in British football usually referencing a particular team's closest rivals and the historical boxing day derby games that took place until the 1980s.