I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day
Decca Concert Orchestra Lyrics
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Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
The song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Decca Concert Orchestra is a powerful reflection on the enduring message of hope and peace that underlies the Christmas season. The song commences with an evocative scene of hearing the bells ringing with "old familiar carols" echoing through the air. These bells symbolize the unbroken tradition of peace and goodwill that Christmastime aims to inspire in people. The repetition of the words "peace on earth, goodwill to men" emphasizes the importance and relevance of this message even in today's world.
The second stanza of the song reflects on the fact that these bells are not just heard in one specific location, but all over the world. The belfries of Christendom unite to create a single song that captures the message of hope and peace. The repetition of "peace on earth, goodwill to men" in the second stanza furthers highlights the universality of the message of Christmas.
The third stanza of the song emphasizes the power of the bells, which symbolize a voice, a chime, and a chant. The bells create an atmosphere of peace, so much so that the world revolves from night to day to the sound of their ringing. The final stanza, however, takes a slightly darker turn with the recognition of hate and the lack of peace within the world. The singer bows his head in despair but is reassured by the pealing of bells, which assert that "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep." This line is powerful as it brings the focus back to the overall message of peace and reminds us that even when, at times, peace seems unattainable, redemption and the triumph of good will surely come someday.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the bells on Christmas day
I listened to the sound of bells on the day of Christmas
Their old familiar carols play,
They played carols that were familiar to me
And wild and sweet the words repeat
The words were repeated in a joyful and delightful manner
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The words were about bringing peace and goodwill to all people on earth
And thought how, as the day had come
I thought about how the day had arrived
The belfries of all Christendom
All the bell towers of Christian churches
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Had played the continuous song without any interruption
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The song was about the message of peace and goodwill
Till ringing, singing on its way
The song continued ringing and singing on its course
The world revolved from night to day,
The world kept moving from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
An angelic voice, sound, and song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Spreading the message of peace and goodwill to all mankind.
And in despair I bowed my head
I felt hopeless and disheartened, and lowered my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
I uttered that there is no peace on earth
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
It's because hate is intense, and it ridicules the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
The song of peace and goodwill to all people on earth.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
The bells rang louder and deeper
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
A voice declared that God is not dead, nor is He sleeping
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
Evil will be defeated, while good shall triumph
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Peace and goodwill to all mankind will be achieved.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: John Mark Hall, Dale Oliver, Bernie Herms
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind