This Johnny Cash Christmas Song Still Has A Poignant Message Today

The spirit of Christmas has a tendency to get lost to the hustle and bustle of the holidays. But it's more important than ever to stop and reflect on the true meaning of the season.

With Christmas approaching, we're finding extra significance in a 60-year-old tune by Johnny Cash. "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is an adaptation of a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem from 1863. The poem is about the despair of hearing Christmas bells as the Civil War tore apart the nation. The message still rings true today.

Cash recorded the song for his first Christmas album The Christmas Spirit in 1963, but it had previously been recorded by Bing Crosby.

Though decades have passed since the powerful poem was translated into song, the message remains one that we should all take to heart, and it goes like this:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth goodwill to men

I thought how as the day had come

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth goodwill to men

And in despair I bowed my head

There is no peace on earth I said

For hate is strong that mocks the song

Of peace on earth goodwill to men

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep

God is not dead nor doth He sleeps

The wrong shall fail the right prevail

With peace on earth goodwill to men

Till ringin' singin' on its way

The world revolve from night to day

A voice a chime a chant sublime

Of peace on earth goodwill to men

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep

God is not dead nor doth He sleeps

The wrong shall fail the right prevail

With peace on earth goodwill to men