Analysis of God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
    Let nothing you dismay,
   For Jesus Christ our Saviour
    Was born upon this day,
   To save us all from Satan's power
    When we were gone astray.
     O tidings of comfort and joy,
     For Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.
   In Bethlehem in Jury
   This blessed babe was born,
  And laid within a manger
   Upon this blessed morn;
  The which his mother Mary
   Nothing did take in scorn.
    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.
  From God our Heavenly Father
   A blessed 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,
    Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

Fear not, then said the Angel,
   Let nothing you affright,
  This day is born a Saviour
   Of virtue, power and might;
  So frequently to vanquish all
   The friends of Satan quite.
    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

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.
    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

But when to Bethlehem they came,
   Whereas this infant lay,
  They found him in a manger
   Where oxen feed on hay,
  His mother Mary kneeling
   Unto the Lord did pray.
    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.

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 others doth deface.
    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Jesus Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas day.