I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Bing Crosby/The Voice of Christmas Lyrics
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Let earth receive her King
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And wide and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to man
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rung so long the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to man
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and marks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to man
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor does he sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to man
The opening lines “Joy to the world, let earth receive her King” is a reference to the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ. It speaks of the joy that the world feels as they welcome the King of the world. The second set of lines “I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play, and wide and sweet the words repeat, of peace on earth, good will to man” establishes the joy and peace-filled mood of Christmas. The familiarity of the bells and carols provide comfort and familiarity to the singer. The words repeat the message of peace that is central to Christianity.
However, the singer’s mood then changes to that of despair. The line “I thought as now this day had come the belfries of all Christendom had rung so long the unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to man” shows the singer’s reflection on the state of the world. The singer questions how peace can exist in a world plagued with hate, war, and strife. The line “For hate is strong and marks the song of peace on earth, good will to man” shows the juxtaposition of hate and peace.
But then there is a glimmer of hope as the singer is reminded that God is not dead nor does he sleep. The line “Then pealed the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead nor does he sleep, the wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to man” represents a message of hope and faith in God. The singer is reminded that even though things may seem bleak and dark, there is always hope for a better future through the grace of God.
Line by Line Meaning
Joy to the world
Let there be joy for everyone in the world
Let earth receive her King
May the world accept our King
I heard the bells on Christmas day
I listened to the beautiful sound of Christmas bells
Their old familiar carols play
The carols being played were known to me since my childhood
And wide and sweet the words repeat
The lyrics of the carols were melodious and kept repeating in my ears
Of peace on earth, good will to man
The carols were singing of peace on earth and benevolence to all mankind
I thought as now this day had come
I pondered upon the present day and the celebrations of Christmas
The belfries of all Christendom
The bell towers of all Christian churches
Had rung so long the unbroken song
Since a long time, the same harmonious tune had not been broken by anything
Of peace on earth, good will to man
The bells had rung for peace on earth and brotherhood amongst people
And in despair I bowed my head
Feeling dejected, I lowered my head
There is no peace on earth I said
I expressed my opinion that there is no peace on this planet
For hate is strong and marks the song
Hatred dominates and negatively affects the message of peace
Of peace on earth, good will to man
The song of peace and love for humanity
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
Suddenly, the bells rang even louder and deeper
God is not dead nor does he sleep
God is alive and vigilant
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
Evil will not succeed, righteousness will triumph
With peace on earth, good will to man
The world at peace, its people in harmony
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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