John Gurka's version of "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day"
It always gives me goosebumps.
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet the words repeat,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had roll'd along th' unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bow'd 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."
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7 comments:
Beautiful! I hadn't heard that - thank you so much for posting it...
Mike
Catching up with your news... see below to my comment on your dear Sneakaround. I am so sorry to read about that. You've been through so much between that and last weekend in San Joaquin. I have been praying lots for all of you.
Last Saturday I read the news about the SJ vote sitting in the Jet Blue terminal at JFK airport. My flight was 2h late so I got a glass of wine and so it was in the bar that I found out about the vote -- at least they have free wifi so I was cruising the blogs. I didn't really care that I was weeping -- weeping for those of you who want to Remain Episcopal and for all the craziness that has brought this about and will continue.
I do love this hymn...so full of honest doubt AND faith...
Yes, I've always loved this hymn. But we never sing it here in Panama.
we don't sing it. I think that Longfellow wrote the words during the civil war.
I'll check.
He did, and this version (as do most song versions) leaves out those verses that relate to the war.
I think I have a songbook somewhere that includes them. I suppose they're dated for singing, but I think they are good poetry.
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