God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen is one of the oldest English Christmas carols, dating back at least to the 18th century and likely earlier. The comma matters: it means may God keep you merry, gentlemen — a wish of comfort and good cheer, not a greeting to merry gentlemen. It was sung by wandering waits and carolers long before it appeared in print.

Its minor-key melody and rousing refrain make it a stirring one to sing, and our Love to Sing choir keeps every word clear. It's a favorite for carol services, school nativities and Christmas concerts.

Discover more Christian Christmas carols, or pair it with The First Noel and I Saw Three Ships.