God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

It has been suggested that during the Christmas seasons of 15th-century England, it was not uncommon for patrolling town watchmen to sing carols and to wish good health to the nobility and landowners whom they passed, in an effort to earn a little extra money. Their greeting might have been something similar to “God keep you strong, gentlemen.” Of course, it would not have sounded quite like that in the English language of the day. For example, to keep or hold something meant to “rest” it, and to be strong or mighty meant to be “merry.” So the watchman's greeting would have actually been something closer to “God rest ye merry, gentlemen.” The song may have been lengthened over time by different singers and by different generations, with the adding of the Christmas story and of other good wishes.

So may have been the birth of one of the oldest known Christmas carols. The concept of carols came from the common people who wished to express their simple ideas and honest feelings that were not expressed by the somber music of the organized church. The word “carol” derives from the French word caroller, meaning to dance around in a circle. The word meaning eventually came to also include music and lyrics. There were carols for all occasions, with Christmas carols relating, for the most part, to the birth of Jesus. It is said that Christmas carols were first brought into church services in the 12th-century by St Francis of Assisi. By the 14th century, the tradition of carol singing and dancing was firmly established throughout Europe. The Protestant reformation came during 16th century, and it was during this time that the first versions of many of today's carols were written.

Then in the 17th century came England's “Cultural Revolution” during the war to topple King Charles I (1601 – 1649). The Puritan English Parliament of 1647 officially abolished the celebration of Christmas and all other festivals, as well as the lively music that went with them. Since they were not performed and passed on, many old Christmas carols were lost during this time. It was not until after the fall of the staunch Protestant Oliver Cromwell (1599 – 1658) that Christmas became legal again.

Christmas carols finally became popular again during the lifetime of Queen Victoria (1819 - 1901), when the songs again expressed joyful and merry themes in their lyrics. As religious observances in the United States and England were closely linked, the popularity of Christmas carols grew in both countries during the 19th century.

The revival and perpetuation of the Christmas carol began in 1822 when collections of old songs were published. A record of these carols was preserved in 1823 when British writer and satirist William Hone (1780 – 1842) published a “List of Christmas Carols now annually printed” in is book, Ancient Mysteries Described. In 1833 came another surge of carol music by British solicitor and antiquarian William B. Sandys (1792 – 1874). That year, Sandys (pronounced “Sands”), published a carol collection entitled Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (London, Richard Beckley, 1833) and it was in this collection that “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” first appeared in print. Other carols that first appeared in this collection include “The First Nowell,” “I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In,” “God Bless the Master of This House,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” It is believed that the carol “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” owes its durability to the way its first verse so plainly expresses the essence of the Christmas story.

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Traditional carol, author unknown.
Published 1833 by William B. Sandys.

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.

Chorus:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.

In Bethlehem, in Israel, this blessèd Babe was born,
And laid within a manger upon this blessèd morn;
The which His mother Mary did nothing take in scorn.

(chorus)

From God our heavenly Father a blessèd angel came;
And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.

(chorus)

“Fear not, then,” said the angel, “Let nothing you afright
This day is born a Savior of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him from Satan’s power and might.”

(chorus)

The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding in tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethl’em straightaway this blessèd Babe to find.

(chorus)

But when to Bethlehem they came where our dear Savior lay,
They found Him in a manger where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling unto the Lord did pray.

(chorus)

Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface.

(chorus)

God bless the ruler of this house, and send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas may live to see again;
Among your friends and kindred that live both far and near—

That God send you a happy new year, happy new year,
And God send you a happy new year.

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