‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day’ is a Christmas carol based on the 1863 poem ‘Christmas Bells’ written by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – a 57 year old widowed father of six children, the oldest of which had been nearly paralyzed as his country fought a war against itself.

Longfellow wrote this poem on Christmas day, 1863, when he heard the Christmas bells and the singing of ‘Peace on earth’ (Luke 2:14) but he observed the world of injustice and violence that seemed to mock the truthfulness of this optimistic outlook, where: ‘Hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men’. The carol concludes with the bells carrying renewed hope for peace among men.

This is a wonderful version of this old Christmas classic by Casting Crowns.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing (peace on earth)
In my heart I hear them (peace on earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

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

But the bells are ringing (peace on earth)
Like a choir singing (peace on earth)
Does anybody hear them? (peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor does he sleep (peace on earth, peace on earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

Then 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

And the bells they’re ringing (peace on earth)
Like a choir they’re singing (peace on earth)
And with our hearts we’ll hear them (peace on earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells they’re ringing? (peace on earth)
The life the angels singing (peace on earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (peace on earth)

Peace on earth, good will to men
Peace on earth, peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men.

Text: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807–1882
Music: John Baptiste Calkin, 1827–1905

May God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith.
The warmth of Christmas, which is love.
The radiance of Christmas, which is purity.
The righteousness of Christmas, which is justice.
The belief in Christmas, which is truth.
The all of Christmas, which is Christ.  Amen.