I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra And Chorus Lyrics
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Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth goodwill to men.
I thought how as the day had come
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along unbroken song
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong that mocks the song
Of peace on earth goodwill to men.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doubt he sleeps
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth goodwill to men.
'Til ringin' singin' on its way
The world revolve from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chance so blind,
On earth goodwill to men.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor doubt he sleeps
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth goodwill to men.
In the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," the bells ringing on Christmas Day signify the familiar carols of peace on earth and goodwill towards men. As the day progressed, the bells continued to ring, reminding the singer of the belfries throughout Christendom and their unbroken song of peace. However, the singer's thoughts turn to despair as he acknowledges the strength of hate that mocks the song of peace. In that moment of despair, the singer hears the bells ring louder and deeper, reassuring him that God is not dead but rather that He is still present and vigilant. The singer then concludes with a message of hope, as the wrong will fail, and the right will prevail with peace on earth and goodwill towards men.
The song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is not merely a Christmas carol but also a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was written during the American Civil War in 1863 when the nation was in turmoil and despair. Longfellow's son, Charles Appleton Longfellow, was severely wounded in battle and was not expected to live. Longfellow's personal suffering and the devastation of the war inspired him to write this poem.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
I listened to the ringing of the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play
The bells played the familiar Christmas carols
And wild and sweet the words repeat
The words of the carols were sung with wildness and sweetness, constantly repeating
Of peace on earth goodwill to men.
The carols were about peace among all men on earth
I thought how as the day had come
I reflected that as the day arrived
The belfries of all Christendom
The bell towers of all Christian nations
Had rolled along unbroken song
Continuously sounded the songs of their religion
Of peace on earth goodwill to men.
Repeating the message of peace on earth and goodwill towards others
And in despair I bowed my head
Feeling hopeless, I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
I made the statement that there is no peace on earth
For hate is strong that mocks the song
Hate is a powerful force that makes the message of the song seem unrealistic
Of peace on earth goodwill to men.
The repeated message of peace on earth and goodwill towards all
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
The bells continued ringing, louder and deeper
God is not dead, nor doubt he sleeps
The belief that God is still present and not resting
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
Eventually, evil will fail and good will triumph
With peace on earth goodwill to men.
Reaffirmation of the message of peace on earth and goodwill towards all men
'Til ringin' singin' on its way
Until the sound of the bells, singing and ringing
The world revolve from night to day
The world keeps spinning from darkness to light
A voice, a chime, a chance so blind,
The sound of the bells, a random occurrence of fate
On earth goodwill to men.
Once again expressing the message of peace on earth and goodwill towards men
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
The bells continued ringing, louder and deeper
God is not dead nor doubt he sleeps
Repeating the message that God is still present and not resting
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
Evil will eventually be defeated by good
With peace on earth goodwill to men.
The final message of peace on earth and goodwill towards all men
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JUSTIN ROBERT CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind