I Heard the Bells

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat of peace on Earth, good will to men

And the bells are ringing (peace on Earth)
Like a choir they're singing (peace on Earth)
In my heart I hear them (peace on Earth)
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

But the bells are ringing (peace on Earth)
Like a choir singing (peace on Earth)
Does anybody hear them? (Peace on Earth)
Peace on Earth, good will to men

Then rang 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

Then 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

And the bells, they're ringing (peace on Earth)
Like a choir they're singing (peace on Earth)
And with our hearts, we'll hear them (peace on Earth)
Peace on Earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells, they're ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The light, the angels singing (peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (peace on Earth)
Peace on Earth, good will to men

Peace on Earth, Peace on Earth, Peace on Earth, good will to men!

This carol is a song based upon a 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Two years prior to writing this poem, Longfellow's personal peace was shattered when his second wife of 18 years, to whom he was very devoted, was fatally burned in an accidental fire. Then in 1863, during the American Civil War, his oldest son, Charles Appleton Longfellow, joined the Union Army without his father's blessing. Longfellow was informed by a letter dated March 14, 1863, after Charles had left. "I have tried hard to resist the temptation of going without your leave but I cannot any longer", he wrote. "I feel it to be my first duty to do what I can for my country and I would willingly lay down my life for it if it would be of any good." 

Charles was soon appointed as a lieutenant but, in November, he was severely wounded in the Battle of Mine Run. Charles eventually recovered, but his time as a soldier was finished. Longfellow wrote the poem on Christmas Day in 1863.It tells of the narrator hearing Christmas bells and despairing that "hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men". But after much anguish the carol concludes with the bells ringing out the affirmation that "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep". 

The poem was put to music in 1873. But was not made popular until Bing Crosby recorded it in 1951. In 2008, the contemporary Christian music group Casting Crowns wrote and performed  the version our choir performed on Christmas Eve.