I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day is a poem written by one of America’s greatest poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He did not write it as a hymn. But today, it is one of the most beloved Christmas hymns.

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Longfellow was born in 1807 in Portland Maine. He is a Mayflower descendant of William Brewster.

Longfellow was the most popular poet of his day in both America and Europe. Among his poems is the classic, “listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere”, which helped shape America’s legacy of freedom. Also, he penned many epic poems, such as The Song of Hiawatha, Evangeline, and The Courtship of Myles Standish.

But in 1863 on Christmas Eve at the height of the Civil War, Longfellow wrote a poem to try to put into words his deep sense of grief and loss.

Longfellow was well-acquainted with sorrow

Longfellow’s first wife Mary died in childbirth in 1835. His second wife, Frances, died in 1861, when her dress accidentally caught fire, which was a very common death for women when the world was lit only by fire. In trying to help his wife, Longfellow was badly burned as well and was so ill he was unable to attend her funeral. He was left a widower with six children, ages six to sixteen.

His grief at the loss of his beloved, Franny, was at times so great that he feared that he would be sent to an asylum.

Then just two years later at the height of the Civil War in 1863, his now 18-year-old son, Charles, snuck off and joined the Union Army. Longfellow had forbidden him to go. He was informed of his son’s decision when a letter arrived for him in March of 1863 from Charles. It said in part…

“I have tried hard to resist the temptation of going without your leave, but I cannot any longer”, he wrote. “I feel it to be my first duty to do what I can for my country, and I would willingly lay down my life for it if it would be of any good.”

Sadly, Charles was badly injured in battle and was barely clinging to life on Christmas Day 1863.

Christmas 1863

That Christmas morning Longfellow had heard the Christmas bells ringing in Cambridge, MA. He heard the singing of “peace on earth”. But within his worry and grief over Charles’ grave injuries, his ongoing and deep mourning for his wife Franny, and with the war raging, Longfellow observed the world of violence and grief around him that seemed to mock the truthfulness of “peace on earth.”

He wrote…

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!”

In Longfellow’s original poem there were six verses, with two describing the canon fire of war drowning out the carols of “peace on earth.” Those two verses are no longer sung in the hymn today.

But thankfully, Longfellow did not dwell on the bleak despair of the war and his sorrow. As he bowed his head in despair, the bells chimed and rang even louder as if to say, “God is not dead, nor does He sleep.”

Righteousness Prevails

And as every Christian should, Longfellow turned his thoughts to the One who loves us. And in the close of this poem, Longfellow leads us to hope, in the blessed assurance that God is alive and righteousness will prevail… and peace would come again to a troubled nation.

His son, Charles, did recover from his wounds. And the war did end. Longfellow published his poem two years later in 1865. The poem was set to music in 1872, first by the English organist John Baptiste Calkin. Bing Crosby was the first popular crooner to record the Bells in 1956 using verses 1,2, 6 and 7, transforming it from a hymn sung in church to a classic Christmas carol.

Today it seems that we are living in times as perilous as Longfellow’s in the Civil War era. Our country is so divided. Violence is at an all-time high in our streets. The founding of our country is being smeared and our history erased. We live in a time of widespread fear and confusion. Christianity is mocked and attacked. Truth is silenced. That which is evil is called good and that which is good is called evil. Sin abounds.

It’s more than enough for us to bow our heads in despair.

But, let’s remember that God is moving in the Earth and awakening His people. He is stirring us, and it is important for us to understand that God is present—that He will help us. Let’s treasure this truth in our hearts this Christmas and celebrate that God is the One who keeps us in His perfect peace… and Jesus is truly Lord of all.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” — Luke 2:14

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

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!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn, the households born
Of 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!

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.

What do you think of this beloved poem/hymn? Share your thoughts and reflections in the comments.

Belinda Brewster analyzes cultural, political, and world events from a biblical worldview. Belinda’s passion is to equip, support, and encourage parents and grandparents who are courageously battling against the spiritual and cultural forces impacting children and grandchildren. Photo Credit: S M on Unsplash.