Contents
About the Carol
"God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" is a traditional English carol, also known as the "Tidings of Comfort and Joy."The earliest known printed date of the carol dates back to 1760, but it is believed to have existed since before the 16th century.
Lyrics Back to Top ↑
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
Analysis of Carol Back to Top ↑
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
Christmas Day was formed based on Christ's birth. Jesus did not just happen to be born on Christmas, Jesus is the whole reason for Christmas!
When we were gone astray
True enough, as Mark records Jesus saying,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
In Bethlehem, in Israel
Asides from prophecy, Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Augustus wanted to tax the people. His family needed to go to Bethlehem to be properly registered.(See Luke 2:1, 4.)
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which his Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
Correct, Mary was thrilled to conceive Jesus. She even sang a song when she learned of that fact.(Luke 1:46-56.)
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
These are the two lines the angel said,
To free all those who trust in him
From Satan's power and might"
The angel did not say these lines. Besides the virgin comment, the idea that Jesus frees those who trust in him from Satan's power and might does not come from Jesus. It comes from the New Testament writers. Jesus actually says,
He also mentioned that obtaining eternal life may cause some familial strife:
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
A little bit of an exaggeration. We do not know the weather conditions. It is still a pleasant touch for the story.
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
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