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At least as old as the 16th cent. An old London tune and carol
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
by trad
God [Em] rest ye [B] merry [Em] gentle- [C] men,
[G] let [C] nothing [Am7] you dis- [B] may
Remember, Christ our saviour was born on Christmas day
[E7] To [Am] save us [G] all from [Bm] Satan’s [Em] power [B7]
when [C] we were [Em] gone a- [D] stray
O [G] ti- [C] dings of [Am] com- [B] fort and [Em] joy, [Em] comfort [A7] and [D] joy
O [G] ti- [C] dings of [Am] com- [B] fort and [Em] joy!
From God our heav’nly 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!
The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in their minds
and left their flocks a feeding in tempest storm and wind
and went straightaway to Bethlehem 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!
[G] let [C] nothing [Am7] you dis- [B] may
Remember, Christ our saviour was born on Christmas day
[E7] To [Am] save us [G] all from [Bm] Satan’s [Em] power [B7]
when [C] we were [Em] gone a- [D] stray
O [G] ti- [C] dings of [Am] com- [B] fort and [Em] joy, [Em] comfort [A7] and [D] joy
O [G] ti- [C] dings of [Am] com- [B] fort and [Em] joy!
From God our heav’nly 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!
The shepherds at those tidings rejoiced much in their minds
and left their flocks a feeding in tempest storm and wind
and went straightaway to Bethlehem 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!