Rice was born in Washington DC, and has been a resident of Franklin and Nashville TN since his early twenties.
From his official website: "In 1996 he signed with a record label (Rocketown Records) as their first artist. After four plus albums and a few handfuls of Christian radio hit singles, he moved to an indie label (Eb+Flo) started by his producer and long time friend Monroe Jones. This new label relationship helped him expand his musical reach into more mainstream pop radio, especially with his light-hearted love songs 'When Did You Fall (In Love With Me)' and 'Lemonade,' still heard in Home Depots, Toys-R-Uses, restaurant bathrooms, airports and shopping malls around the country."
In June 2022, Tates Creek Presbyterian Church released a report on allegations of past sexual misconduct by Rice after commencing an investigation in October 2020.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Chris Rice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas 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
From God our heavenly Father, a blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds brought tiding of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name
"Fear not then", said the angel, "Let nothing you a fright
This day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright
To free all those who trust in him from Satan's power and might"
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 doth bring redeeming grace
The first verse of Chris Rice's rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" speaks directly to the audience, addressing them as "merry gentlemen". The singer encourages the audience not to become dismayed, as after all, Christ was born on Christmas day as a savior to rescue them from the power of Satan when they strayed. The verse ends with "tidings of comfort and joy", as a direct contradiction to the dismal message Satan's power represents.
The second verse details the events leading up to Christ's birth. An angel comes from God the Father and brings the news of the birth to the shepherds in Bethlehem. The angel reassures the shepherds, telling them not to fear the news, for Christ is a pure and holy savior who has been born on this day. The singer emphasizes the need for trust in Christ's power to save from Satan's grasp.
In the final verse, the singer implores the audience to praise the Lord and embrace each other with love and brotherhood. Christmas, the "holy tide", brings with it a redemption that applies not only to the individual, but to the community as a whole.
Line by Line Meaning
God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay
May the merry gentlemen rest peacefully, without fear or worry
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day
Recall and cherish the birth of Christ our Savior on this day of Christmas
To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray
He came to rescue us from the clutches of Satan when we were lost and wandering
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, O tidings of comfort and joy
What wonderful news this is, bringing comfort and joy to all who hear it!
From God our heavenly Father, a blessed angel came
Our heavenly Father, God, sent a blessed messenger in the form of an angel
And unto certain shepherds brought tiding of the same
The angel told some shepherds the same news, just as it had been told to us: that Christ was born
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name
Christ, the Son of God, was born in Bethlehem as prophesied
"Fear not then", said the angel, "Let nothing you a fright
Do not be afraid," said the angel, "and let nothing scare you
This day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright
On this day, a Savior has been born of a pure and bright virgin
To free all those who trust in him from Satan's power and might
He came to set free all those who believe in him from the power and might of Satan
Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place
Let us all sing praises to the Lord, everyone gathered here
And with true love and brotherhood, each other now embrace
Let us embrace each other with true love and brotherhood
This holy tide of Christmas doth bring redeeming grace
The holy occasion of Christmas brings grace that redeems us
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind