I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

(Image: The Bell Tower at Harding University)

The song may be better known as "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," or more simply as

"I Heard the Bells." The poem was given the name, "Christmas Bells" by the author of the poem and I yield to his preferences. He was, after all, one of the most influential Americans in our history.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in 1807 in Portland, Mass, later to be Portland, ME. His mother was the daughter of a Revolutionary War hero. His father, was a lawyer who would soon become a US Representative. Longfellow's life's was marked by success and heartache. To do justice to his successes would take more space than is afforded in three articles such as this. Suffice it to say that Longfellow has established himself among the very top echelon of literary figures in American history, and I would dare say in all of the English speaking world.

However it was his heartaches that are reflected in the subject of this blog. I have room here for only a brief and cold sketch, but your imagination can easily fill in the missing, poignant parts.

After four years of happy married life, Longfellow's world was turned upside down when his wife died as the result of a miscarriage. Following a period of grief, the lady who was to be his second wife agreed to marry him, but only after turning down his first request. In 1861, after 18 happy years and the birth of several children, the family experienced a terrible tragedy. While he was napping, his wife had an accident in which her dress caught fire. Hearing her screams he ran to her rescue and was finally able to get the fire out by smothering it with his own body. Unfortunately, his wife was so badly burned that she died the next day. Longfellow, himself, was so badly burned that he was unable to attend her funeral.

Soon after, the War Between the States was raging and his eldest son requested permission to join a Massachusetts' regiment. Upon Longfellow's refusal to grant permission, his son stole away in the night and joined the Union forces. Seeing the depth of his son's desire, Longfellow gave his permission. In the fall of 1863 his son was wounded by a round that entered his left shoulder and exited from his right shoulder, ending his military career although he survived. This entailed many months of convalescence during which it was not clear what the outcome would be.

As we might expect, all of this trauma put Longfellow in a state of despair such that for two years this man who was destined to be one of the premier authors of his time, didn't write anything. He was trying to pull himself out of his despair when in the Christmas season of 1863 he found himself listening to the church bells ringing out carols. His thoughts became the poem that eventually became the song.

It was first set to music using a tune composed by John Calkin in 1872. Several other tunes have been used, but the one we all are most familiar with was composed by Johnny Mallon in 1956. This is a song exposing the thoughts and heart of a man desperately trying to find his old optimistic self in a world of woe.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

and mild 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."

The first verse speaks of Christmas Day and alludes to the angels in the sky seen by the shepherds, praising God and saying, "Peace on earth, good will to men." Every verse closes with the same phrase. These two lines (the one repeated) are the only things that connect this poem with Christmas. Yet, it is the very essence of what Christmas is all about.

The first three verses start slowly and thoughtfully and rise till the trajectory reaches a crescendo in the third verse. The arrival of a savior was definitely an expression of good will to men and brought with it a promise of peace. At first it is the bells, mild and sweet. Then the belfries of all Christendom are ringing the message as the world leaves darkness and seeks the light. And the promise rises from a voice, to a chime, to a chant sublime.

But in the fourth verse the horrible noise of cannons brings back the awful reality of the world we live in. For the author, two beloved wives have died tragic deaths. His son is wounded with an uncertain future. A war is tearing the country apart. All this tragedy and evil keeps the promise brought by the savior from being realized.

Verses five and six are the low point of the song. The evil raging is earth-shattering, to the point that it is tearing homes apart and leaving those who believed the promise forlorn, hope lost. The despairing author is among this group. He bows his head and seems to give up. It is true, hate is strong. The devil does mock the song of peace on earth, good will to men.

Finally, in verse seven we have resolution. This is the high point. The bells are still ringing. The peal of the bell can still be heard. God is still in control. Satan may rage and the situation seem unbearable, but good will and peace will be on those who persevere, as promised. Heavenly bliss was never meant for this earth. It will be found in another realm.

With that realization, Longfellow has regained a more optimistic, if not happy, view. This is both an account of how this world operates, and a story of Longfellow's life.

God has promised good to us. He sent His son to give us a chance to secure His blessing and His promise of our salvation. But life on this earth will not be a picnic. It wasn't for Jesus. It wasn't for his apostles. It wasn't for those spoken of in Hebrews 11:35-38. It won't be for us. But God is in control and His promises and His word will prevail. Those who follow Him faithfully to the end will receive the reward. "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10.

• This song has been presented in many versions, but my favorite is by the Petersens. They honor it with a somber tone worthy of its birth from tragedy. Yet it ends with an unmistakable optimism that saves the 3rd verse for the triumphant finish, two optimistic verses in a row to finish. I appreciate that the Petersens include every verse, whereas many others omit verses 4 and 5 thus disengaging the song from its original meaning and depth. I will link to the Petersens' beautiful and heartfelt version of this song in my Trying to Walk Facebook page.