I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Christmas Carol Lyrics

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.

I thought how as the day had come
The belfries of all Christendom
Had roll'd along th' unbroken song
Of Peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair, I bow'd 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."

About This Carol

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day is a heartfelt carol that grew from a moment of personal grief into a message of enduring hope. The poem was written in 1863 by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow during the Civil War, a time marked by national turmoil and profound personal sorrow. Longfellow had recently lost his wife in a tragic accident, and one of his sons had been severely wounded in battle. Christmas, normally a season of joy, felt heavy that year.

As Longfellow listened to church bells ringing on Christmas morning, he wrestled with the stark contrast between the promise of "peace on earth" and the suffering he saw around him. His poem Christmas Bells captures that tension, moving from despair to a renewed sense of faith that peace and goodwill would ultimately prevail. Its message continues to resonate across generations who face hardship during the holidays.

The poem was later adapted into a carol when various composers set it to music. One of the most beloved settings, often sung today, came from English organist John Baptiste Calkin in the late 19th century. Over the years, several musical arrangements have appeared, each lending its own emotional texture. Modern artists have also offered fresh interpretations, bringing the carol to new audiences.

With its honest acknowledgement of pain and its unwavering return to hope, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day stands apart from many more jubilant carols. It reminds listeners that Christmas speaks to both the struggles and the healing found in the human spirit.

Performance from Bing Crosby

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