Top Ten Christian Christmas Songs #3

#3 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

The traditional religious Christmas carol "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" was sung for centuries before being first published in Britain in 1833. The story goes that the carol was sung to the gentry by town watchmen who earned additional money during the Christmas season.

The carol has been covered by artists from just about every style of music. From Julie Andrews, Perry Como and Neil Diamond to Mariah Carey, Chicago and The Barenaked Ladies -- secular as well as Christian artists have done the song justice for years. 

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, 
Let nothing you dismay, 
For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
Was born upon this 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.

From God our heavenly Father 
A blessèd 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.

The shepherds at those tidings 
Rejoicèd much in mind, 
And left their flocks a-feeding 
In tempest, storm and wind, 
And went to Bethlehem straightway, 
This blessèd Babe to find: 
O tidings of comfort and joy.

But when to Bethlehem they came, 
Whereat this Infant lay, 
They found Him in a manger, 
Where oxen feed on hay; 
His mother Mary kneeling, 
Unto the Lord did pray: 
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 others doth deface:
O tidings of comfort and joy.