RitualSong (2nd ed.) ‎#525

525. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

1 God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray.

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

2 In Bethlehem in Judah
This blessed babe was born,
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn,
For which his mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn. [Refrain]

3 From God our heav'nly 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. [Refrain]

4 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,
This blessed babe to find. [Refrain]

5 Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and charity
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others shall replace. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: God rest you merry, gentlemen
• Title: God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
• Refrain First Line: O tidings of comfort and joy
• Meter: 8 6 8 6 8 6 with refrain
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2016
• Topic: Christmas
• Source: English carol, 18th C.

Tune Information

• Name: GOD REST YOU MERRY
• Harmonizer: John Stainer, 1840-1901
• Meter: 8 6 8 6 8 6 with refrain
• Key: d minor or modal
• Source: English, 18th C.