“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is a classic Christmas story-song. It focuses on the Lukan narrative of Mary, the angels, and the shepherds and emphasizes the rest God provides through His Son, our Savior.
The refrain, “Oh-oh, tiding of comfort and joy, comfort and joy” is a catchy repeat that allows even those who struggle with all seven verses to always have a part to play.
In this version Sarah follow the original tune, which makes it an arrrangment, but it has its own style. The verses that are here form a chiastic (hourglass structure.) The 2nd and 6th are about Mary and have a protestant feel, as they emphasize both Mary’s humility, and worship of Jesus. (Roman Catholics usually focus on her honor and virtue.) Here’s the structure:
- 1. Public invitation — God REST ye merry Gentlemen
- 2. Mary’s HUMILITY — did nothing take in scorn
- 3. Angel to Shepherds — announcement
- 4. FEAR NOT — he comes to save us
- 5. Shepherds go to Bethlehem — laid in a manger
- 3. Angel to Shepherds — announcement
- 6. Mary’s worship — kneeling to PRAY before the manger
- 2. Mary’s HUMILITY — did nothing take in scorn
- 7. Public response — “Now to the Lord sing PRAISES all you within this place, and with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace.”
- So note the structure:
- The center verse is #4 — FEAR NOT.
- Surrounded by Angel and Shepherds (#3 and #5)
- Sourrounded by Mary (#2 and #6) — HUMBLE and PRAYING,
- Surrounded by our response: REST and PRAISE
Tidings of comfort and joy!
Here’s where you can find the whole album, Emmanuel.
. . . As I Follow Christ 