God Rest Ye Merry Kings Singers

One of the world’s leading a cappella ensembles is The King’s Singers. The British group was founded in 1968 and named after King’s College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six choral scholars. Today they are renowned for their impeccable professionalism, flawless diction, tight harmonies and consistently beautiful musicianship. The Kings Singers have been a favorite guest of The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and were the headliner guest artists of the Choir’s 2007 Christmas Concert PBS Special.

“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” is a traditional English Christmas carol. It was first published in 1760 but is thought to have been written earlier. The song is even referenced in Charles Dickens 1834 classic:

“…at the first sound of ‘God bless you, merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay!‘, Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost.”

I just love this delightful arrangement performed by The Kings Singers on a 2012 broadcast of the Music & The Spoken Word program. Enjoy! – MoSop

GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN – LYRICS

1. God rest you merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay,

For Jesus Christ our Saviour

Was born upon this day,

To save us all from Satan’s power

When we were gone astray:

O tidings of comfort and joy,

comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

2. From God our heavenly Father

A blessed angel came,

And unto certain shepherds

Brought tidings of the same,

How that in Bethlehem was born

The Son of God by name:

O tidings …

3. The shepherds at those tidings

Rejoiced much in mind,

And left their flocks a-feeding

In tempest, storm and wind,

And went to Bethlehem straightway,

This blessed Babe to find:

O tidings …

4. But when to Bethlehem they came,

Whereat this Infant lay,

They found Him in a manger,

Where oxen feed on hay;

His mother Mary kneeling,

Unto the Lord did pray:

O tidings …

5. Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth deface:¹

O tidings …