Caroling! The Songs of Christmas

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====== I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day ======

==== Lyrics ====

1. I Heard the Bells on Christmas DayI 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!

2. 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!

3. 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!

4. 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!"

5. 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."

**Text:** Henry Wadsworth Longfellow\\
**Music:** John Baptiste Calkin
==== Music & Performance ====

{{wiki:i_heard_the_bells_on_christmas_day.mp3}}\\
[[https://musescore.com/user/30522520/scores/5593811|Source]]

{{youtube>TOazi26Je8c?small=rel=0}}

==== Background ====

The original text by Longfellow includes two additional verses after verse 3 that reference the American Civil War and add context to "And in despair I bowed my head":

Then from each black, accursed mouth\\
The cannon thundered in the South,\\
And with the sound\\
The carols drowned\\
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent\\
The hearth-stones of a continent,\\
And made forlorn\\
The households born\\
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

**Origin:** United States of America.\\
**First Published:** 1863 Text, 1872 with Music
==== More Information ====

[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Heard_the_Bells_on_Christmas_Day|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Heard_the_Bells_on_Christmas_Day]]