God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Nagrane w roku 1917 przez Edison Records

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (dosł: „Bóg uspokaja was radośnie, panowie”) – angielska kolęda datowana na około XVI wiek^[1]. Jej tekst wydrukowano po raz pierwszy w Londynie w 1833 roku. Uczynił to brytyjski prawnik William B. Sandys, który umieścił ją w swej kompilacji pieśni bożonarodzeniowych. Autor kolędy pozostaje jednak nieznany.

Odniesienie do kolędy pojawia się w Opowieści wigilijnej Karola Dickensa. W 2012 roku powstało pełne polskie tłumaczenie pieśni. Autorem słów siedmiozwrotkowego przekładu jest Bartosz Kuriata. Istnieją dwie polskie wersje tej kolędy i noszą tytuły „Niech Bóg dziś pokój ześle wam” oraz „Bóg wciąż najmilsi przy nas jest”.

Tekst według Williama Sandysa

God rest ye merry, gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember Christ our Saviour

Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Jewry, (lub: Judah)

This blessèd Babe was born (lub: The humble Christ was born)

And laid within a manger (lub: And God sent us salvation)

Upon this blessèd morn (lub: That blessed Christmas morn)

To which His Mother Mary

Did nothing take in scorn

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father

A blessèd Angel came;

And unto certain Shepherds

Brought tidings of the same:

How that in Bethlehem was born

The Son of God by Name.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

"Fear not then," said the Angel,

"Let nothing you affright,

This day is born a Saviour

Of a pure Virgin bright ,

To free all those who trust in Him

From Satan's power and might."

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings

Rejoiced much in mind,

And left their flocks a-feeding

In tempest, storm and wind:

And went to Bethlehem straightway

This blessed Babe to find. (lub: The Son of God to find)

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

But when to Bethlehem they came (lub: And when they came to Bethlehem)

Whereat this Infant lay, (lub: Where our dear Saviour lay)

They found Him in a manger,

Where oxen feed on hay

His Mother Mary kneeling, (lub: His mother Mary kneeling down,)

Unto the Lord did pray.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth efface.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

Wersja Annie Lennox

Brytyjska piosenkarka Annie Lennox nagrała „God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” na swój bożonarodzeniowy album A Christmas Cornucopia w 2010 roku. Utwór wydano jako drugi singel z płyty i nagrano do niego także teledysk. Piosenka uplasowała się na 126. miejscu brytyjskiej listy sprzedaży singli^[2].

Przypisy

↑ Barrie Jones (ed.), The Hutchinson Concise Dictionary of Music, Routledge, 2014, s.v. "carol", "Christmas carols were common as early as the 15th century. [...] Many carols, such as 'God Rest You Merry Gentlemen' and 'The First Noel', date from the 16th century or earlier."
↑ Chart Log UK: DJ Steve L. - LZ Love. www.zobbel.de. [dostęp 2014-08-25]. (ang.).

Linki zewnętrzne

Tekst kolędy na The Hymns and Carols of Christmas
Tekst kolędy na Cyberhymnal. cyberhymnal.org. [zarchiwizowane z tego adresu (2012-04-28)].
Tekst kolędy na Oremus. oremus.org. [zarchiwizowane z tego adresu (2015-03-16)].

[1] Barrie Jones (ed.), The Hutchinson Concise Dictionary of Music, Routledge, 2014, s.v. "carol", "Christmas carols were common as early as the 15th century. [...] Many carols, such as 'God Rest You Merry Gentlemen' and 'The First Noel', date from the 16th century or earlier."

[2] Chart Log UK: DJ Steve L. - LZ Love. www.zobbel.de. [dostęp 2014-08-25]. (ang.).

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