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,
Longfellow's original lyrics have been adapted and 
set to music by a broad array of musicians including 
Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jimmie Rogers, and of course, 
the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

     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."