I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas Day, their old familiar carols play...

I love that sweet old carol, we sang it in church on this past Sunday, and we sang it from the blue hymnal (the one that says KJV on the spine, not sure why though, most of those hymns come long after King James). We sang all 5 verses, something I've never heard before, usually only 3 or 4 are sang. this time I hit

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!"

Hate is strong and mocks the song... wait, what? I had never heard that before. Then the last verse got my attention:

    The Wrong shall fail,
    The Right prevail, 

That sounded hauntingly familiar... it reminded me of a Civil war type of statement. Once home I started to look through the different versions I've heard before and many ignore these verses. I found it in some contemporary versions even though I completely ignore the Casting Crowns version (I don't like their arrangements, they sound to me like a Hootie and the Blowfish rip-off)

I did the Berean thing and started to research, and I was fairly surprised to learn that the words were written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and that there's a total of seven verses. Several sources claim that he wrote his poem "Christmas Bells" in memory of his wife who died previously, but that's only part of the story. His wife had died two years previously of a tragic fire. Longfellow was devastated but it would only get worse for the greatest American poet. 

In March, 1863 Longfellow received a letter from his oldest con Charles Appleton Longfellow who wrote to inform him that he had joined the Union army.

Dear Papa

You know for how long a time I have been wanting to go to the war I have tried hard to resist the temptation of going without your leave but I cannot any longer, I feel it to be my first duty to do what I can for my country and I would willingly lay down my life for it if it would be of any good"

Yours Affectionately
Charley 

After two weeks as an enlisted man in Battery A of the the 1st Massachusetts Artillery, Charles received a  commission as a lieutenant in the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. Charley loved the adventure of being on the march, but in late 1863 in the Mine Run Campaign he was shot in the back. He was taken home and nursed back to health by his father who was inspired to write the poem "Christmas Bells" on Christmas Day in 1863.

Read (or sing) all the lyrics and see if you agree with me that all seven verses should be sang

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."