God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen facts for kids

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen is a very old and popular English Christmas carol. It's a song sung during the Christmas season. You might also know it by other names like Tidings of Comfort and Joy. Sometimes, people call it Come All You Worthy Gentlemen or God Rest You Merry People All.

This carol is found in an old collection of songs called the Roxburghe Ballads. It's also listed in the Roud Folk Song Index, which keeps track of traditional folk songs.

What the Title Means

The first line of the carol, "God rest you merry, Gentlemen," can be a bit confusing today. In old English, the word "rest" could mean "to keep" or "to cause to continue." So, "God rest you merry" actually means "May God keep you happy" or "May God grant you peace and happiness."

Many people mistakenly put a comma after "you," making it "God rest you, merry gentlemen." This makes it sound like the gentlemen are already merry and God is telling them to rest. But the original meaning is a wish for them to become merry.

Also, you might sometimes see "ye" instead of "you" in the first line. For example, "God rest ye merry." However, "ye" was only used when someone was the subject of a sentence (like "he" or "she"). "You" was used when someone was the object (like "him" or "her"). So, "you" is the correct word to use in this carol.

The Lyrics of the Carol

The earliest known version of this carol was written around 1760. It was part of a collection called Three New Christmas Carols. Here is the first verse from that early version:

God rest ye, merry Gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this Day.
To save poor souls from Satan's power,
Which long time had gone astray.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy.
Oh tidings of comfort and joy.( in a low key)

Over the years, the words of the carol have changed a little. Different versions have been printed in various songbooks. For example, a version was printed in 1775, and another popular one was shared by W. B. Sandys in 1833. Today, a common version is found in the book Carols for Choirs, which many people in the UK use. Even though the words might be slightly different, the main message of comfort and joy remains the same.

Popular Versions of the Song

Many famous singers and bands have recorded their own versions of "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen." These recordings often appear on music charts, especially around Christmas time.

For example, country singer Garth Brooks released his version in 2000. The Christian band MercyMe also had a popular version that charted in 2006. In 2010, the Glee Cast sang their own version, which was popular on holiday music charts.

Later, in 2011, the metalcore band August Burns Red released a version that did very well on hard rock and Christian music charts. The Canadian band Barenaked Ladies and singer Sarah McLachlan also released a version in 2004. More recently, the a-capella group Pentatonix included their version on their 2016 Christmas album. It was even featured in the 2018 animated movie The Grinch.

These different versions show how this old carol continues to be loved and shared by new generations.

Images for kids

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  This image shows an 1827 publication of the carol's melody. It was used with funny, satirical lyrics by William Hone.

See also

In Spanish: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen para niños