God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
One of the oldest surviving English carols
♫ Lyrics
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray.
Comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.
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.
Comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.
❄ The Story
"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" is one of the oldest surviving English Christmas carols, with roots stretching back to at least the 15th century. The word "rest" here means "keep" or "make" — so the title is a blessing: "God keep you merry, gentlemen." Note the comma after "merry" — the gentlemen are being wished merriment, not being described as merry.
The carol gained literary fame when Charles Dickens referenced it in the opening of "A Christmas Carol" (1843): the miserly Scrooge frightens away a caroler singing this very song at his door. Dickens's use of the carol cemented its association with the spirit of Christmas generosity — and its opposite.
It was first published in William Sandys's collection in 1823, though it had been part of the oral tradition of London street singers and watchmen for centuries before. The minor-key melody gives it a distinctive, slightly haunting quality that sets it apart from the major-key brightness of many other carols.
🎶 Notable Recordings
A spirited folk-pop duet
A darkly atmospheric rendition
Fun Facts
The comma goes after "merry," not before — it means "God keep you merry," not "merry gentlemen."
Charles Dickens featured this carol in the opening of "A Christmas Carol" (1843).
It was traditionally sung by London watchmen and street singers, not in churches.