“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is one of the oldest existing Christmas carols. Yep, you read that correctly. Dated back to the 1500s and earlier, this English carol has actually gone through a lot of change and misinterpretation over the years.
“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” was written as a reaction to 15th century church music. Typically dark, somber, and in Latin, most church-goers disliked their religious songs.
Because the people could not change the way they worshipped at the time, they came up with their own music outside of the church, and this carol became one of the most well-loved of the time. Don’t worry – over time (like 200 years) “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” became a standard in Christmas church music.
Even though “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” was written centuries ago, the first printed version didn’t appear until about 1760. Check out the original words and punctuation for the first verse:
God rest you merry, Gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this Day.
To save poor souls from Satan’s power,
Which long time had gone astray.
Which brings tidings of comfort and joy.
Typical of 17th-century language, “rest” in this usage means “to keep or continue” while “merry” means “great, mighty, or strong”. So a modernized translation of the first line could read: “God keep you strong, gentlemen”. This fits with the rest of the verse – a hopeful cry to stay strong because Jesus Christ has saved mankind.
That being said, the text has been changed a few times over the years. Check out the different versions (note the changes in punctuation and lyric):
| 1775 Version | 1833 Version | 1961 Version |
| 1. God rest you, merry gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ our Saviour Was born on Christmas-day To save poor souls from Satan’s power, Which long time had gone astray.
| 1. God rest you merry, gentlemen Let nothing you dismay For Jesus Christ, our Saviour Was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray.
| 1. God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, For Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born upon this day, To save us all from Satan’s power When we were gone astray:
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| 2. From God that is our Father The blessed angels came Unto some certain shepherds, With tidings of the same; That he was born in Bethlehem The Son of God by name.
| 2. In Bethlehem, in Jury (Judea) This blessed babe was born And laid within a manger Upon this blessed morn The which his mother Mary Nothing did take in scorn.
| 2. 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:
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| 3. Now when they came to Bethlehem, Where our sweet Saviour lay, They found him in a manger Where oxen feed on hay. The blessed Virgin kneeling down Unto the Lord did pray.
| 3. 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.
| 3. 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:
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| 4. With sudden joy and gladness, The shepherds were beguil’d, To see the Babe of Israel Before his mother mild. O then with joy and cheerfulness Rejoice each mother’s child.
| 4. Fear not, then said the Angel, Let nothing you affright, This day is born a Saviour Of virtue, power and might; So frequently to vanquish all The friends of Satan quite.
| 4. But when to Bethlehem they came, Whereat this Infant lay, They found Him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay; His mother Mary kneeling, Unto the Lord did pray:
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| 5. Now to the Lord sing praises, All you within this place Like we true loving brethren, Each other to embrace, For the merry time of Christmas Is coming on a-pace.
| 5. 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.
| 5. 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 (outshine):
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| 6. But when to Bethlehem they came, Whereas this infant lay, They found him in a manger, Where oxen feed on hay, His mother Mary kneeling Unto the Lord did pray.
7. Now to the Lord sing praises,
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*Fun fact: Charles Dickens quotes this song in his book A Christmas Carol!
Why has this particular Christmas carol stuck with us for so long? I think it’s because of the hope in the lyrics and the beauty and simplicity in the tune. What do you think?
What is your favorite Christmas carol?
Thank you for your post. Would you mind sharing your sources for the following:
Your assertion of the hymn being written as a reaction to the modern music.
Your source for the different versions of the hymn.
Again thank you for your post. I am writing a exegesis of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” for one of my seminary courses.
Joshua
Glad you liked the post! Check out this website for more information: https://www.scross.co.za/2018/12/god-rest-you-merry-gentlemen/