A literary genius...in Christmas music

So because of a new blog I've been following I've learned a little bit about the carol, Good King Wenceslas. Well recently I have been wondering about a host of other hymns that go along with Christmas. I love so many of the Christmas hymns and carols that we sing, and find it amazing that most of the Christian world has been taught what they know about the Christ child through simple Christmas music. Like for instance one of my all time favorite Christmas carols is I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day. These words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow encompass all that is beautiful and holy about writing to me. In fact when researching a little about this hymn, as my mentor in the above stated blog did, I found the love that this man had for words.
"I will not disguise it in the least... the fact is, I most eagerly aspire after future eminence in literature, my whole soul burns most ardently after it, and every earthly thought centres in it... I am almost confident in believing, that if I can ever rise in the world it must be by the exercise of my talents in the wide field of literature".

Wow. Beautiful!
I love the way that it starts out gradual at the beginning and then builds. (I believe it's not just the music that does this but the words seem to build to a crescendo) Because of the bells that were ringing the sound of Christmas rang out. I kind of picture a bit of the man swinging in the bell tower like in a scene from The Sound of Music, wanting all the world to know of the First fruits of him that slept. But then the author comes to a realization that the world brings like discouragement and allows doubt to enter in (this maybe likened to the six 'o clock news hour) and the author digresses from his original hope, hanging down his head. Can you not just see this dear man hold down his head; maybe it's just the poet's lament in me? But then those beautiful bells ringing brought remembrance of the Son, and brought his head up again by peeling more loud and sweet, God is not Dead nor doth He sleep. After a night of sleep for man God was there through the night like a good parent waiting at the side of a sick or nightmare stricken child. While the earth was making it's rotation around the Sun the author states that the night turned into light (one could also reference the Nephites in the Americas day and a night and a day of no darkness). The world revolved from night to day the morning came and just as so many wonder about, so did the light!!

1. I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

2. I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th’unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

3. 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.”

4. Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

5. Till, 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!


Wikipedia states,
"A bell tower (also belfry) is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. Most commonly, it is part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in continental Europe, it is often named "belfry". Elsewhere, the term "belfry" refers strictly to the part of the tower which contains the bells. Thus some bell towers have no belfry. The occasional free standing bell tower may also be referred to by its Italian name, campanile. Old bell towers may be kept for their historic or iconic value, though in countries with a strong campanological tradition they often continue to serve their original purposes as well."