I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day

from Harp Guitar Christmas by Muriel Anderson

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about

n 1872 John Baptiste Calkin composed the melody for several stanzas of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Christmas Bells,” leaving out Longfellow’s verses about the American Civil War that was raging in 1864, yet still ending with the confident hope of peace. On her solo harp guitar, Muriel imitates the sounds of church bells she heard early one Sunday morning in Switzerland.

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!

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!”

credits

from Harp Guitar Christmas, released November 1, 2006

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Muriel Anderson Nashville, Tennessee

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"Nightlight Daylight" was chosen as one of the top 10 CDs of the decade by Guitar Player Magazine, and “Heartstrings” accompanied the astronauts on the space shuttle Discovery. "Sailing Dream" features guest singer Suzy Bogguss. ... more

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