I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
GodTube Staff
1 I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace of 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 pealed 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.
Baptist Hymnal, 1991
The Story Behind I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” began as an 1863 poem titled “Christmas Bells” by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Written during the turmoil of the Civil War, the carol moves from heartbreak and despair to a renewed declaration of hope:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep…
The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail.”
Deepen your celebration of Christmas with your FREE copy of our Christmas Hymns & Carols Guide. Enjoy lyrics, videos, and the spiritual significance of timeless carols. Download yours HERE.
What Inspired Longfellow to Write It?
Longfellow’s life had been marked by deep personal tragedy in the years leading up to the poem.
In 1861, his wife of 18 years died from severe burns after an accidental fire in their home. Her death left him devastated and struggling to find peace.
Then, in 1863, Longfellow’s eldest son, Charles Appleton Longfellow, joined the Union Army without his father’s permission. In a letter dated March 14, Charles explained,
“I feel it to be my first duty to do what I can for my country, and I would willingly lay down my life for it…”
Later that year, Charles was gravely wounded in the Battle of New Hope Church in Virginia. Though he eventually recovered, his military career was over, and Longfellow once again found himself overwhelmed with grief and fear.
Amid these personal sorrows and a nation divided by war, Longfellow heard church bells ringing on Christmas Day. Their sound inspired him to write “Christmas Bells,” capturing honest despair yet ending with a resolute hope in God’s justice and peace.
Over time, composers set the poem to music, transforming it into the popular hymn we know today: A powerful reminder that even in the darkest seasons, the promise of “peace on earth, goodwill to men” still echoes through the ages.
Further Reading
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The True Story of Praise Through Pain in "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"
-
4 Things You Should Know about I Heard the Bells, Sight & Sound's First Movie
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What Does 'I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day' Teach Us about Finding Peace after Grief
Photo by Victor Dementiev on Unsplash
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