Blog Caroling: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Who of us doesn't need "tidings of comfort and joy" this year, after these nine months of Covid?  Maybe I'm the only one but I suspect not.  This year my favorite carol has become the joyful "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman."  What an uplifting song!



I always thought the carol was a suggestion or a command for the merry gentlemen to rest.  But according to this post, I misunderstood.  At the time the carol was written, sometime in the 1500s, the word "merry" meant "great and mighty."  (Think Robin Hood and his merry [mighty] men.)  And the word "rest" meant "keep or make."  Hence, in modern English it becomes, "God make you mighty, gentlemen."  I like that a lot! 

Wikipedia offers three versions of the lyrics from various years.  I'm sharing these, which I think are similar to the ones I remember from my childhood.

          God rest you merry, gentlemen,
          Let nothing you dismay,
          For Jesus Christ our Saviour
          Was born on Christmas Day,
          To save us all from Satan's power
          When we were gone astray.
          Chorus:  
             O Tidings of comfort and joy,
             comfort and joy,
             O tidings of comfort and joy

          From God our heavenly Father
          The blessed angels came,
          And unto certain shepherds
          Brought tidings of the same,
          How that in Bethlehem was born
          The Son of God by name.
          Chorus

          Now when they came to Bethlehem
          Where our sweet Saviour lay,
          They found him in a manger
          Where oxen feed on hay.
          The blessed Virgin kneeling down
          Unto the Lord did pray.
          Chorus

          With sudden joy and gladness
          The shepherds were beguil'd
          To see the Babe of Israel
          Before his mother mild.
          O then with joy and cheerfulness
          Rejoice each mother's child
          Chorus

          Now to the Lord sing praises,
          All you within this place,
          And with true love and brotherhood
          Each other now embrace
          This holy tide of Christmas
          All other doth deface.
          Chorus 

These are other carols that captured my attention this year.
The Little Road to Bethlehem, charming, gentle, and almost melancholy, is new to me.
Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella
Do You Heart What I Hear

Many thanks to Randy Seaver for suggesting blog caroling for this past Saturday Night Genealogy Fun.

–Nancy.

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