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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine—then still part of Massachusetts—on February 27, 1807, the second son in a family of eight children. His mother, Zilpah Wadsworth, was the daughter of a Revolutionary War hero. His father, Stephen Longfellow, was a prominent Portland lawyer and later a member of Congress.
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.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was inspired to write this poem in 1863 during the Civil War when his son went off to fight for the Union against his wishes. While this song is about Christmas time, there is an underlying tone of the war (The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail).
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8.8.8.8. (L.M.) " I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day " is a Christmas carol based on the 1863 poem "Christmas Bells" by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. [1] The song tells of the narrator hearing Christmas bells during the American Civil War, but despairing that "hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men".
- 8.8.8.8. (L.M.)
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1863)
- 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! The pattern for ‘Christmas Bells’ is an interesting one: each verse is five lines long, and rhymes in an AABBC pattern, where the “A” lines are eight syllables, and the “B” lines are exactly half of that.
- 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! The second verse reflects on the long-lasting aspect of the Christian faith and its worship for Christmas day; all day long, the bell towers (or belfries) have been ringing out the same song, peace, and goodwill.
- 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!
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Why did Henry Longfellow write 'Christmas Bells'?
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Why was Christmas Bells written?
“Christmas Bells” was written in the midst of personal and societal tragedy. Two years prior to writing this poem, Longfellow’s wife was fatally burned in a fire. In 1863, at the
Having read that Longfellow was walking the streets hearing the Christmas bells while at the same time not knowing if his sons were alive (during the War for Southern Independence) I am deeply touched by his verse. His passion for life and peace comes accross to me when I consider what was behind his writing.
