Ring merrily! Ring merrily!
O happy Christ­mas bells;
And let us hear again the tales
Your music ever tells, [repeat]
How Chris­tian men in other days
Made feast within their halls,
Hung mistletoe and holly wreaths
Around their old oak walls;
How rich and poor knelt side by side,
At call of Christ­mas chimes;
And how the bonds of Chris­tian love
Bound up the good old times.

Ring tenderly! Ring tenderly!
O holy Christ­mas bells:
For ever with your earthly peal
A heav’nly chorus swells, [repeat]
The angels, who were first to bring
The welcome news to men,
Still join with us to celebrate
The Sav­ior’s birth again;
And some whom we have loved and lost
Sing carols with us now,
With all the old love in their hearts,
And new light on their brow.

Ring joyously! Ring joyously!
O blessèd Christ­mas bells;
And show us of the future good
Your welcome chime foretells, [repeat]
We know ’twill be a mingled lot
Of pleasure, pain and strife;
That thorns will cluster round the flowers,
Along our path of life;
But ye shall sing to us of hope;
Of help, of love untold;
Reminding us of that bright star
That tips our clouds with gold.

Ring merrily! Ring merrily!
O dear old Christ­mas bells,
And bring all holy blessings down
From where all mercy dwells. [repeat]
Ring out your gentle messages,
As ye have done of old,
To help the weary and the sad,
The weaklings of the fold;
And tell again the cheering tale
Of Him who bore our woe;
And gave His own heart’s life and love,
For breaking hearts below.