Scripture Verse

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: H. H. Sut­cliffe, in Car­ols Old and Car­ols New, by Charles L. Hut­chins (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Par­ish Choir, 1916), num­ber 374 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Sut­cliffe’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

The mer­ry bells for us they ring,
For us they ring, for us they ring;
A mes­sage of great joy they bring,
Great joy they bring, great joy they bring;
They tell of Christ the lit­tle Child,
Of peace, good­will and mer­cy mild;
They ring o’er earth a sweet re­frain,
Glad Christ­mas comes again.

Refrain

They ring, they ring a sweet re­frain,
Glad Christ­mas comes again.

Those dear to us with joy we greet,
With joy we greet, with joy we greet;
Round fes­tive board old friends we meet,
Old friends we meet, old friends we meet;
With harm­less jest and fac­es bright,
Without a care, with hearts so light,
We’ll ban­ish sor­row and all pain;
Glad Christ­mas comes again.

Refrain

O happy day when Christ was born,
When Christ was born, when Christ was born;
The best of days is this glad morn,
Is this glad morn, is this glad morn;
To men there comes sweet joy and peace,
The dawn of life which shall not cease;
Oh bells, ring out the heav’n­ly strain,
Glad Christ­mas comes again.

Refrain