God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Christmas carols have always been a part of Yuletide celebrations.  Whether you’re regaling your neighbors with your favorite Christmas songs, or just belting a merry tune at home, one classic carol you’re likely to sing is, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. As many of the older carols, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen was written as a direct response to the music of the church during the fifteenth century. The lyrics were written in Olde English, and it is attributed ‘English Traditional’. No one knows who wrote the carol. 

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is reputed to be one of the oldest carols around, as well as one of the most popular, leaving its marks on history. According to an old story, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen was sung to the upper class by the town watchmen, who were paid extra to work during the Christmas season.  The song can also be found in a few literary classics, including ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens. 

Though God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen has been around for centuries, its first publication was in 1833, in a book that had a collection of Christmas songs gathered by William B. Sandys. It was called ‘Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern.’  Even the lyrics have been changed to suit the times. During World War II, in Britain, children made a parody on the carol, singing ‘God Rest Ye Jerry Mental Men’. They were referring, of course, to the Germans, and implying that they were crazy. 

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen should be read as “May God rest you merrily, gentlemen,” a message that has survived centuries. It is a carol that speaks deeply to the heart, and brings ‘tidings of comfort and joy’, which is why this Christmas song is such a timeless classic.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

God rest ye merry, gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

“Fear not then,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

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 other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy