Blog Caroling 2010 - Christmas Bells

FootnoteMaven has invited geneabloggers to a virtual carol sing this Christmas. One of my favorite carols began as a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow during the Civil War. It was twice set to music and then a third time in 1956 by Johnny Marks, who also wrote Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Longfellow's original poem, with stark references to the Civil War raging, can be found here.

It has been recorded many times, but my favorite version was recorded by Harry Belafonte in the 1960s.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Bells

(Adapted from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

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!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rung so long

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!"