a Christmas Carol for You . . . Pass it On!

     A couple years ago I thought it might be fun to "go  caroling" to each of you, each day between now and Christmas, so, I posted a song each day for you to enjoy - my "Christmas Carol of the Day"! 

I was thinking about this the other day, and thought it might be fun to "carol" you all again this year and give a "challenge" to you all to join me by sharing the "carol" with the people you know! I think it would be lots of fun to fill facebook with "caroling" - what do you think?

My first song is from Casting Crowns - I Heard the Bells - based on a poem by Longfellow. During the Civil War, his oldest son joined the Union Army, against his wishes and was wounded in a battle. This poem was written in 1863 by Longfellow, as he thought about his son and the recent death of his wife, and was first set to music in 1872 (info I found on Wikipedia).

As you listen to this song you can hear a father's despair and grief and then the peace which comes from knowing, "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Look at the lyrics -

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they're singing (Peace on Earth)
In my heart I hear them
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

But the bells are ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir singing (Peace on Earth)
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep (Peace on Earth, peace on Earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

Then 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

And the bells they're ringing (Peace on Earth)
Like a choir they're singing (Peace on Earth)
And with our hearts we'll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells they're ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The life the angels singing (Peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (Peace on Earth)
Peace on earth, good will to men

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men

Enjoy this first "carol" and join me in "caroling" as you "pass it on"!