The text to this musical selection is from the Nativity play The First Nowell by Ralph Vaughn Williams and is adapted from the traditional carols “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen,” “God Bless the Master of This House,” and “The Truth Sent From Above.”


1. God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day,
To save our souls from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray,
And it’s tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
And it’s tidings of comfort and joy.

2. God bless the master of this house,
And send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas
May live to see again,
Among your friends and kindred
That live both far and near,
And God send you a happy New Year, happy New Year,
And God send you a happy New Year.

3. This is the truth sent from above,
The truth of God, the God of love:
Therefore don’t turn me from your door,
But hearken all, both rich and poor.

4. The first thing which I do relate
Is that God did man create,
The next thing which to you I’ll tell,
Woman was made with man to dwell.

5. And we were heirs to endless woes,
Till God the Lord did interpose,
And so a promise soon did run,
That He would redeem us by His Son.

6. Thus He in love to us behaved,
To show us how we must be saved;
And if you want to know the way,
Be pleas’d to hear what He did say.