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This page is associated with Merry Christmas Era
 
This page is associated with the 1990s

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is an international bonus track from Mariah's first holiday album, Merry Christmas. The song was released on November 1, 1994 through Columbia Records.

Background[]

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is one of the oldest extant carols, dated to the 16th century or earlier.[1] According to Snopes.com, The word “rest” is used in “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” in a sense meaning “to keep,” “to continue to be” or “to remain as specified” (as in the phrase “rest assured”), not specifically in the sense of “to make.” Thus “God rest you merry, gentlemen” is not an importuning for God to make the titular gentlemen mighty, but rather a prayer for God to keep joy in the hearts of men.[2]

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is the 11th track from Mariah's Merry Christmas album. The song's duration is only a minute and nineteen seconds, making it the shortest song from the album.

Live performance[]

Mariah's only released live performance of the song was during the Hallmark Channel Special "Mariah Carey's Merriest Christmas" in 2015. [3]

Lyrics[]

[Pre-Chorus]

God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day

[Chorus]
To save us all from Satan's power
When we had gone astray
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy

[Pre-Chorus]
God rest ye merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas day

[Chorus]
To save us all from Satan's power
When we had gone astray
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

References[]

  1. Barrie Jones (ed.), The Hutchinson Concise Dictionary of Music, Routledge, 2014, s.v. "carol", "Christmas carols were common as early as the 15th century. [...] Many carols, such as 'God Rest You Merry Gentlemen' and 'The First Noel', date from the 16th century or earlier." Wikipedia retrieved 7/24/20
  2. What Does ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ Mean? Snopes.com - retrieved 7/24/20
  3. YouTube: Mariah Carey l God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Live at Hallmark Channel Special) retrieved 7/24/20
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