God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

This hymn-carol-song-verse is often not included in our traditional church hymn books since it is considered by some to be secular even though the verses do include the Christmas story. Although published in 1827, it was well known as an old English carol " sung in the streets of London". We also learn that "old London had municipal watchmen who were licensed to perform certain tasks, including the singing of Christmas carols" and this carol was one of those performed. Mind where you breathe on the comma -- Ye rest merry, gentlemen and not God rest ye, merry gentlemen.

It was included, to great effect, in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. You might remember that Ebenezer Scrooge hears it being sung on Christmas eve and yells at the singers that he will hit them with a ruler if they continue to sing. Merry, indeed -- bah! humbug!

The verse tune is in a minor key, unusual to our ear for Christmas and the chorus is short and in the relative major key, so that the song does end on a more positively sounding note, which is in keeping with the words of the refrain:

O, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy:
O, tidings of comfort and joy!

I'm sure that just reading the above refrain has you humming the tune.

The first verse and the last verse give the title of the carol particular meaning. "Let nothing you dismay" and "save us from Satan's power when we were gone astray" from the first verse set the focus of the words. And then we sum up the merry attitude in "Now to the Lord sing praises" and "true love and brotherhood each other now embrace". Those are wonderful reasons to be merry!

I really like the last line:
"This holy tide of Christmas all other doth deface."
Think about that. The holiness of Christmas puts all other "holidays" to shame. And what a shame that so many think of this Blessed Holy Day as just another holiday for worldly merriment and not the merry (blessed, happy) JOY that is ours, given to us, in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The words for all verses are here: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/o/godrest.htm

Here is a gift for your eyes - a reproduction of an old carol book.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bramley/carols/files/jpg/0007=2.htm
Turn some of the pages to see the lovely art work, not only for God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen but some others, as well.