The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #120141   Message #2611171
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
14-Apr-09 - 03:50 PM
Thread Name: Origins: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Subject: RE: Origins: God rest ye Merry Gentlemen
The Oxford Book of Carols points out that "'God rest you merry' means 'God keep you merry', but the comma after 'merry' is generally misplaced."

The earliest- God rest you, comma,- is a parody, so really doesn't count.