Christmas Carols

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Chords, Lyrics and Origins

Origins

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (or 'God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen') is a very old English Christmas carol that dates back at least as far as the sixteenth century. It is in the Roud Folk Song Index, and is also sometimes called 'Tidings of Comfort and Joy'. At the time that the carol was written, the word 'rest' was commonly used to mean 'keep' or 'continue to be'. So the title is not an invitation to put one's feet up! Rather, its meaning is close to, 'God keep you happy'.

acousticmusicarchive · God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Chords

Em
God rest ye merry, gentlemen ,

C                   B7
Let nothing you dismay .

Em
Remember, Christ, our Saviour 

     C                         B7
Was born on Christmas day 

     Am                     G
To save us all from Satan's power 

         Em                       D
When we were gone astray.

   G              B7              Em
O tidings of comfort and joy, 

                  D
Comfort and joy ,

    G            B7                Em
O tidings of comfort and joy, 

    Em
In Bethlehem, in Israel

    C                          B7
This blessed Babe was born ,

       Em
And laid within a manger 

C                          B7
Upon this blessed morn ,

    Am                    G
The which His Mother Mary 

       Em                    D
Did nothing take in scorn.

   G               B7              Em
O tidings of comfort and joy, 

                  D
Comfort and joy ,

    G            B7                Em
O tidings of comfort and joy, 

Lyrics

God rest ye merry, gentlemen ,
Let nothing you dismay .
Remember, Christ, our Saviour 
Was born on Christmas day 
To save us all from Satan's power 
When we were gone astray.
 O tidings of comfort and joy, 
Comfort and joy ,
O tidings of comfort and joy  .

In Bethlehem, in Israel
This blessed Babe was born ,
And laid within a manger 
Upon this blessed morn ,
The which His Mother Mary 
Did nothing take in scorn.
 O tidings of comfort and joy, 
Comfort and joy ,
O tidings of comfort and joy  .

From God our Heavenly Father
 A blessed Angel came.
And unto certain Shepherds 
Brought tidings of the same:
 How that in Bethlehem was born
 The Son of God by Name.
 O tidings of comfort and joy,
 Comfort and joy,
 O tidings of comfort and joy.

  "Fear not then," said the Angel,
 "Let nothing you affright.
 This day is born a Saviour
 Of a pure Virgin bright, 
To free all those who trust in Him 
From Satan's power and might.
O tidings of comfort and joy, 
Comfort and joy,
 O tidings of comfort and joy.

  The shepherds at those tidings 
Rejoiced much in mind, 
And left their flocks a-feeding 
In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway 
The Son of God to find.
 O tidings of comfort and joy,
 Comfort and joy ,
O tidings of comfort and joy  .

And when they came to Bethlehem 
Where our dear Saviour lay, 
They found Him in a manger, 
Where oxen feed on hay;.
His Mother Mary kneeling down, 
Unto the Lord did pray. 
O tidings of comfort and joy, 
Comfort and joy ,
O tidings of comfort and joy  .

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. 
O tidings of comfort and joy, 
Comfort and joy ,
O tidings of comfort and joy.