home

Christmas wishes

I’m going to let this Christmas carol do the talking for me today. President Bush recently quoted it in his address to the nation on Iraq, and I think posting the lyrics in their entirety would be a good thing for us all. My favorite rendition of this song is the Carpenters’ version on their An Old-Fashioned Christmas album (released after Karen Carpenter’s death in 1983). Let us all remember that ultimately, peace on this earth will only be achieved by God Almighty, not by men. But let us stand for His holy righteousness in these times of trouble.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
written by Henry Wasdworth Longfellow, 1864 (during the Civil War)

I heard the bells on Christmas day
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
Of 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.

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.”

Comments are closed.