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.