I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Harry Belafonte (Holiday) Lyrics
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Their old familiar Carols play
And wide and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth good will to man
I thought as now this day had come
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rung so long the unbroken song
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
In Harry Belafonte's "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day," the lyrics describe hearing the familiar sounds of Christmas day ringing through the bells. The words of the carol express a message of hope for peace on earth and goodwill toward all men. However, the singer acknowledges that this sentiment may not be true given the hatred and violence that exists in the world.
As he becomes more dismayed by these thoughts, the bells peal more loudly and deeply. The singer then comes to the realization that God is alive and present, and that truth and justice will ultimately prevail. The message of the song is one of hope and faith, even in times of darkness and uncertainty.
Overall, the song acknowledges the pain and suffering that exists in the world but encourages listeners to hold onto hope for a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the bells on Christmas day
I perceived the ringing of the bells on the day of Christmas
Their old familiar Carols play
The carols playing were the ones well-known to me
And wide and sweet the words repeat
The words seemed far-reaching and pleasing as they echoed
Of peace on earth good will to man
The words being repeated wished for peace and goodwill for all people
I thought as now this day had come
I thought at that moment since this day had arrived
The belfries of all Christendom
The bell towers of all Christian churches
Had rung so long the unbroken song
Had been ringing for so long the uninterrupted song
Of peace on earth good will to man
Of harmony and kindness towards all humanity
And in despair I bowed my head
Feeling hopeless, I lowered my head
There is no peace on earth I said
I said there was no peace on earth
For hate is strong and marks the song
As hatred prevails, it overshadows the message of peace
Of peace on earth good will to man
Of harmony and kindness towards all humanity
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
Then the bells rang more loudly and profoundly
God is not dead nor does he sleep
God is not nonexistent nor is he inactive
The wrong shall fail the right prevail
Wrongdoing shall diminish and the right shall triumph
With peace on earth good will to man
Resulting in harmony and kindness towards all humanity
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JUSTIN ROBERT CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind