I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
The Wonder Kids 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.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th' unbroken song
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."
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.
The song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1863, during the Civil War. The lyrics describe the sound of Christmas bells and how their melody brings about a feeling of peace and goodwill to all men. However, as Longfellow reflects on the current state of the world, he is filled with despair at the sight of hate and violence that surrounds him. He wonders how there could possibly be peace on earth when war and conflict rage on. At that moment, the bells ring louder and deeper, reassuring him that God is still present and working towards a world of peace. The song ends with a hopeful note, as the bells continue to ring and the world turns from night to day.
The message of this song resonates deeply with people, especially during times of strife and uncertainty. The lyrics remind us that even in the darkest of times, hope and love will prevail. The melody of the song is gentle and contemplative, allowing the listener to reflect on the message of the lyrics. Many people have covered this song, including Johnny Cash, Bing Crosby, and Casting Crowns, among others.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard the bells on Christmas day
I listened to the sound of church bells ringing on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
They played traditional Christmas songs that we know so well
And wild and sweet the words repeat
The words were both lively and tender, and they repeated themselves
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
The lyrics sang of world harmony and kindness towards humanity
I thought how, as the day had come,
I considered how Christmas day has arrived
The belfries of all Christendom
The steeples of every Christian church
Had rolled along th' unbroken song
Had chimed in with an unceasing melody
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
About world peace and human kindness
And in despair I bowed my head
With a heavy heart, I lowered my head
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
I lamented: "Peace cannot exist on Earth"
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
"Because hatred is so strong, it makes a mockery of the peaceful message
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
of peace and goodwill for mankind
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
Suddenly, the bells rang out even louder and deeper
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
"God is alive and actively watching"
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
Injustice will falter as morality triumphs
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Thus peace on earth and goodwill will reign
Till ringing, singing on its way
Echoing far and wide while it moves on
The world revolved from night to day,
The planet spins from darkness to light
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
A melody, a rhythm, a beautiful song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
of peace and goodwill for mankind.
Contributed by Nora H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.