I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Melody - Melody - "Waltham" (J. Baptiste Calkin, 1829-1905)

Henry W. Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
2. I thought how as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th'unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
3. 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.'
4. Then peeled the bells more loud and deep:
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.'
5. Till, 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.

In 1863, Longfellow's son, a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac, was seriously wounded in battle. This event inspired the father to write this poem. He had no intention for it to be used as a carol. It is not known who joined the words with a tune composed by J. Baptiste Calkin.