Longfellow - I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Sing-Prayer ^ | 1863 | Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

[CharlesOConnell]

Christmas is long past. World-War-I stories were told this Christmas about an informal, Allied-Axis cease-fire, spontaneously breaking out among the line soldiers, though condemned by the Generals, during which both sides sang Christmas carols, came out into No-Man's Land to share food, cigarettes and even play soccer games. But, now, no one last Christmas dreamt that today we would be thinking about Russia & the Ukraine.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a very popular 19th century poet, had a very appropriate poem for this time, about the human cost of war, "I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day", but it was centered on that holiday, and so, it might not seem apropos at this time. (Longfellow's son had been wounded in the Civil War; the outcome was still uncertain; the poem was written in 1863.)

Longfellow had written about the heroics of war, in "Paul Revere's Ride". (There is a terrific video about it at https://youtu.be/y8CdFf6z4V8 .)

But, since war is hell, and there is the question, "why is one Christian nation attacking another?", and the civilians bear most of the cost, it might be good to hear Longfellow's Christmas poem again.

(Karaoke music -- you should sing it. Right click to open in a new window, and return here to sing the words.)

I-Heard-the-Bells-on-Christmas-Day.mp3

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

	Henry W. Longfellow, 1863		J. Baptiste Calkin, 1872 Waltham
	1. 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!		2. And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
	3. Till 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!		4. Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
	5. It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men!		6. 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!”
	7. 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.”

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Until killed by the CCP-Coronavirus, or rather the FEAR of it (manditory vax to sing in the choir), the choir that I belonged to for 15 years, sang this every year at our Christmas concert.

Fauxi, XiJinBiden, True-dolt,et al., YOU (and MANY OTHERS), will have A LOT TO ANDWER FOR, when you meet your Maker!

[Born in 1950]

“The wrong shall fail, the right prevail.”

What’s happening now is bigger than a war.

It was as if an earthquake rent the hearthstones of our free covenant. There is no sign of wrong’s impending failure.

[the OlLine Rebel]

This is beautifully performed by Karen Carpenter and great arrangement by her brother.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Was this church choir?

Too many churches have rolled over for PC wokeness, including fear of COVID.

[Luke21]

I loved Bing Crosby’s version of that.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

Not really. It was an interdenominational Christian men’s choir. We were from 35+ churches and a dozen different denominations. A few months ago, the choir director, the board (it was a registered non-profit), and some of the rrmaining original members, chose to close it down, a few months back. Of course, our last practice was in March 2020, before the ‘two weeks to flatten the curve’ began.

Fifteen years and gone. VERY sad and disappointing.