I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day...

I have had this song in my head for weeks...  as I was contemplating Peace.  I went to YouTube and there I found some fantastic videos!  There are (at least) three musical versions of the song. This is just one of the several...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZtNlZmnEMU  Go and watch it and then come back!

After I heard the history of the song, that the lyrics came from a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem, I had to find the complete poem!  So, I have included it here, "Christmas Bells", written on Christmas Day 1863,

If you STILL want more, here is an excellent article on Longfellow and the history of this remarkable poem. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/don-meyer-phd/i-heard-the-bells-on-chri_b_2316476.html

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! 

And thought how, as the day had come, 
The belfries of all Christendom 
    Had rolled along 
    The unbroken song 
Of peace on earth, good-will to men! 

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! 

Then from each black, accursed mouth 
The cannon thundered in the South, 
    And with the sound 
    The carols drowned 
Of peace on earth, good-will to men! 

It was as if an earthquake rent 
The hearth-stones of a continent, 
    And made forlorn 
    The households born 
Of 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!” 

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.”