![]() In today’s world filled with unrest, we, too, need the message, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” or “May God Keep you in contented spirits, folks. It is centered around the birth of Christ and conveys the Christmas message of hope and abundant joy. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is somber and yet uplifting and inspiring. Some speculate that this is due to Queen Victoria’s love of carols.Ĭharles Dickens referenced the song in his classic, “A Christmas Carol.” The song describes how Jesus has come to “save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray” which is an appropriate theme for all mankind-and epitomized by Scrooge. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” has been a traditional carol since the mid-18th Century. In today’s language, the first line could read, “May God keep you in contented spirits, folks.” The text has changed several times over the years. In the 17th Century, “rest” as it is used in this song meant “to keep or continue.” This usage of “rest” was obsolete by 1760. It is interesting to consider the lyrics in light of their original meaning. It was a reasonable assumption that the people being addressed werent just gentlemen but merry gentlemen. By the late 18th century the Tudor expression God rest ye merry had long since fallen out of use. This collection also included “The First Noel” and “I Saw Three Ships.” God rest ye merry Gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, Remember Jesus Christ our Saviour Was born upon this Day. The melody and lyrics were first published together in 1833 in a collection titled, “Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern,” compiled by William Sandys.
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