God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Lyrics, Author Unknown
Harmony Attributed to Sir John Stainer (c.1875)
Christmas Carol

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 pow'r
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.

Return to Patriotic Songs Page