I’ve loved the tones of The Carpenters for decades, and they don’t disappoint in this version of ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.’ Fifty years ago, on Christmas Day, I received a record player and an album of the Carpenter’s titled ‘Close to You.’ How has time gone by so quickly?
I still have the album. It’s easy now to bring up the old songs sung by the Carpenters on tablet, Fire television or computer, but holding the old album in my hands takes me back to when I unwrapped it all those years ago.
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.
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.
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.”
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!
