God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
& The Ray Charles Singers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior,
Was born on Christmas day

To save us all from Satan's power,
When we were gone astray,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy,
Oh 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,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Oh tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

The Shepherds at these tidings,
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a feeding,
In tempest storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straight way,
The blessed babe to find,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen tell the story of the birth of Jesus, emphasizing the message of hope and salvation that his birth represents. It encourages the listener to take heart and not be dismayed, reminding them that Christ was born on Christmas day to save them from the power of Satan. The second verse speaks of an angel that came from God to certain shepherds, announcing the birth of the Son of God in Bethlehem. The third verse tells the story of the shepherds leaving their flocks to find the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, rejoicing when they finally found him.

This song is a traditional Christmas carol that has been popular for centuries. It has a strong religious message that emphasizes the hope and joy that the birth of Jesus brings. The song has been performed by many different artists over the years, with various arrangements and interpretations. The melody is simple and repetitive, making it easy to sing along with and remember. The song has a timeless quality that has helped it to remain popular for generations.

Line by Line Meaning

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
May the merriment of Christmas bring you peace and rest

Let nothing you dismay,
Do not be discouraged or disheartened by anything

Remember Christ our Savior,
Recall that Jesus, who saves us from sin,

Was born on Christmas day
Was born into the world as a baby on this special day

To save us all from Satan's power,
So that He could deliver us from the influence of the devil

When we were gone astray,
When we were lost and wandering away from God's path

Oh tidings of comfort and joy,
This news brings both comfort and joy

Comfort and joy,
Peace and happiness

From God our heavenly father,
The message came from our divine Creator

A blessed Angel came,
An angel who brought a message of blessing

And unto certain Shepherds,
And delivered this message to specific shepherds