Thursday, 25 December 2008
-
Currently
Christmas Is All in the Heart
By Steven Curtis Chapman
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
see relatedMerry Christmas!
There are many things I love about Christmas- carols, baked goods, time with family and friends, but most of all being able to celebrate the birth of my Saviour. It's so different from any other holy day. It doesn't suddenly make the world all better or solve every problem, but it reminds me (and hopefully others) of what's important.
This Christmas carol does a particularly good job of that and is one of my favorites. It was written 144 years ago and is as relevant today as it was then. When it was first written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, there were two other stanzas which were later ommitted because they included specific references to the Civil War. In 1872, the remaining five stanzas were slightly rearranged by John Baptiste Calkin who also added the music. Below is the poem in its five-stanza carol version. The fourth verse is a definite favorite of mine.
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.
I 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.
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!If you would like to read more about this poem/song or its original version, I suggest you try this link: http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Edit_I.Heard.the.Bells.html
Merry Christmas!
-
recommend
- recs 0
-
share
-
email
- sent 0
Post a Comment