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"God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," Lyrics, Text Format
"God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," Lyrics, Text Format

Minor tonality, syncopation, and a melody
stepping up and down the staff.

 

Description

  • Grade: Fifth
  • Origin: England – Traditional Carol
  • Key: D minor (pitched in F Major)
  • Time: 4/4
  • Form: AB – verse/refrain
  • Rhythm: beginners: | ta ta ta ta | ta/a/a ta |
    | ta/a ta ta | ta/a ti ti ta | syncopation
  • Pitches: intermediate: So La Ti Do Re Mi Fa So La
  • Intervals: intermediate: La/Mi (P5), Mi\La (P5), Fa\Re (m3), La8\Mi (P4), Do\La (m3), La/Do (m3), La/Re (P4) – melody moves primarily by steps
  • Musical Elements: notes: dotted half, half, quarter, eighth; pickup beat, syncopation, minor tonality, verse/refrain
  • Key Words: world geography: England, Bethlehem, Israel; scared, Christmas carol, Christmas hymn, birth of Jesus, Bible story, Christ, Saviour, Satan, holiday song, seasonal song, astray, Jewry, blessed, manger, mother Mary, scorn, tiding, comfort, God, heavenly, Father, angel, shepherds, brought, Son of God, affright, Savior, Virgin, rejoiced, flocks, tempest, straight, oxen, kneeling, pray, praises, brotherhood, embrace, holy tide, doth deface, reign, kindred; abbreviation: Bethl’em (Bethlehem), pow’r (power)
  • Recorder: intermediate: introducing B flat, D minor tonality

 

“God Rest You Merry Gentlemen” 

1. God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day,
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r
When we were gone astray:
Refrain:
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
2.
In Bethlehem in Jewry
This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger,
Upon this blessed morn;
The which His mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn:
Refrain
3. In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn;
The which His mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn:
Refrain
4. 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.
Refrain
5. “Fear not, then,” said the angel,
“Let nothing you affright
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
Refrain
6. The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethl’em straightaway
This blessed Babe to find.
Refrain
7. But when to Bethlehem they came
Where our dear Savior lay,
They found Him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling
Unto the Lord did pray.
Refrain
8. 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.
Refrain
9. God bless the ruler of this house,
And send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas
May live to see again;
Among your friends and kindred
That live both far and near:
That God send you a happy new year, happy new year,
And God send you a happy new year.
Additional Formats (click to enlarge)
music
"God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," Music Format
beats
Click to enlarge: "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," Beats Format
rhythm
Click to Enlarge: "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," Rhythm Format
pitch numbers
Click to Enlarge: "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," Pitch Number Format
solfeggio
Click to Enlarge: "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," Solfeggio Format
letter names
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