God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: A History


“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 Version1833 Version1961 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.

 

And it is tidings of comfort and joy.
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.

 

O tidings of comfort and joy,
For Jesus Christ, our Saviour was born on Christmas day.
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:

 

O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
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.

 

And it is, etc.
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.

 

O tidings, &c.’
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:

 

O tidings …
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.

 

And it is, etc.
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.

 

O tidings, &c.
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:

 

O tidings …
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.

 

And it is, etc.
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.

 

O tidings, &c.
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:

 

O tidings …
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.

 

And it is, etc.
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.

 

O tidings, &c.
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):

 

O tidings …
 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.

 

O tidings, &c.

7. 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).

O tidings, &c.
 

*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?

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I'm a pianist, composer, writer, photographer, and overall classical-music-lover who is always open to new sounds.

3 thoughts on “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: A History

  1. 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

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