God rest you merry gentlemen

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen est un hymne chrétien traditionnel et l'un des plus anciens chants de Noël. Sa tonalité est La mineur.

Histoire

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen fut d'abord publié en Angleterre 1823 lorsqu'il parut dans Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, un livre de chants compilés par William B. Sandys, bien que son incipit était alors emprunté à William Hone dans Ancient Mysteries Described. L'auteur originel est inconnu. À l'époque, les mots de la chanson avaient un sens différent de leur usage contemporain ; rest signifait garder, pas reposer et merry voulait dire fort, pas joyeux.

Il ne s'agit pas d'un texte adressé à de gaillards gentilhommes. Plutôt, la chanson aurait été chantée aux petits propriétaires par les gardiens de la ville qui gagnaient des sommes supplémentaires d'argent lors de la saison de Noël. Dans le récit Un chant de Noël de Charles Dickens, en entendant l'hymne, Scrooge saisit avec énergie l'homme qui chantait, le faisant fuir et laissant la serrure de la porte froide et brumeuse.

Paroles

God rest ye merry, gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

for jesus Christ our Saviour

Was born upon this day (or Was born on Christmas Day)

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,

This blessèd Babe was born

And laid within a manger

Upon this blessèd morn

The which His Mother Mary

Did nothing take in scorn

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father

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.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,

"Let nothing you affright,

This day is born a Saviour

Of a pure Virgin bright,

To free all those who trust in Him

From Satan's power and might."

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings

Rejoiced much in mind,

And left their flocks a-feeding

In tempest, storm and wind:

And went to Bethlehem straightway

The Son of God to find.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

And when they came to Bethlehem

Where our dear Saviour lay,

They found Him in a manger,

Where oxen feed on hay;

His Mother Mary kneeling down,

Unto the Lord did pray.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth deface.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

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