God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is a 15th century Christmas carol, author unknown. This song appeared in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (1843), but was written 500 years ago and sang by the common people of the day in words they could understand, rather than in Latin. The song tells of the birth of Christ and has a profound meaning. The song was sung as an upbeat carol and often people would dance in joy to its great message.
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.