"God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"

One of my favorite songs heard at this time of year is this one played by Ian Anderson (of Jethro Tull fame) in a handsome little video found on YouTube. I've been curious of late, however, because of having seen some differences in the printed title of the song. The title phrase demands a comma, although many texts use no comma (which is incorrect).

I've alway thought of it this way--God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen. The comma placed after Ye suggests that the Gentlemen are Merry--they are Merry Gentlemen--and the song wishes them Rest. It makes sense. These Merry Gentlemen couldn't Rest if they were dismayed (i.e., "let nothing you dismay").

But recently I saw it written with the comma after Merry--God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen. While not creating a totally different meaning, this leads to important differences. According to Martin DeMello, this is the original version. Now in our current lingo, God Rest Ye Merry doesn't make a lot of sense. DeMello, however, suggests that in English usage at the time the song was composed, Rest could also be used for "keep." So, the line would be wishing somebody happiness--God Keep Ye Merry, Gentlemen.

So, in this wonderful and difficult season, in this wonderful and difficult world, God rest ye merry, bloggers.