Danske Julesange

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

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

In Bethlehem, in Israel
This blessèd Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessèd morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our heavenly Father
A blessèd 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 of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoicèd much in mind
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind
And went to Bethlehem straightway
This blessèd Babe to find

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

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 of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

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
Doth bring redeeming grace

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

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Om julesangen God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Titlen bliver misforstået af næsten alle. Kommaet står nemlig efter “merry”, ikke før: der er ikke tale om nogle muntre herrer, men om en ønskning om, at Gud må bevare jer i god behold og godt humør. “Rest” betød på ældre engelsk at holde eller bevare. Sangen er en af Englands ældste bevarede julesange og kendes fra 1700-tallet, men melodien og traditionen bag den er formentlig endnu ældre.

Den blev sunget af de såkaldte “waits” – byens vægtere og gademusikanter, der gik fra dør til dør i juledagene og sang mod en skilling eller et krus øl. Sangen fik for alvor sin plads i den engelske jul med Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol fra 1843, hvor en dreng synger den ind gennem Scrooges nøglehul og bliver jaget væk. Den mørke mol-melodi giver sangen en helt anden stemning end de fleste andre julesange – mere fortællende end festlig.

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