Christmas Song: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Cet ancien cantique de Christmas, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, remonterait au XVIIIe siècle, quoi qu’on ne puisse pas établir de façon précise l’année où il fut composé. Néanmoins, on sait que la mélodie a été publiée par un dénommé William B. Sandys en 1833, lequel n’en est toutefois pas l’auteur. À titre de preuve, dans un ouvrage paru antérieurement, ce chant y figure, sans que n’y soit cependant cité le nom de l’auteur. Puisqu’il ne subsiste que très peu de traces de cette song, on ne peut non plus attribuer les paroles à aucun compositeur illustre ou non.

The melody of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen comes from an Aeolian mode, an old-fashioned name once used in ancient Greece to designate the scale of "A." Another noteworthy fact is that in the original title, there is a comma between the words Merry and Gentlemen. According to the rules of French punctuation, the comma normally marks a short pause in reading. Based on this rule, Merry would therefore not refer to Merry Gentlemen, which seems somewhat odd, and makes little sense.

In short, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen remains a classic Christmas carol, and is still frequently played on radio during the holiday season. Over the years, many singers have performed it, including Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Ella Fitzgerald Perry Como, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Maria Carey.

Words

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you
Dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from satan's power
When we had gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you
Dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from satan's power
When we had gone astray
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy