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"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" is a popular Christmas carol with lyrics written by Charles Wesley in the 18th century. However, the music for this carol was not originally composed by Felix Mendelssohn. Here are some interesting facts about the song's history:

1. Felix Mendelssohn's Involvement: While Mendelssohn didn't compose the entire carol, he did contribute to its creation. In 1840, he composed a cantata called "Festgesang" (Festival Song) to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. This cantata included a section with music that would later become the melody for "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing."

2. Lyric Adaptations: The lyrics of "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" were adapted from a Wesleyan hymn by various authors, including George Whitefield and Martin Madan. The version we know today is largely attributed to George Whitefield and was further modified by various editors over the years.

3. Felix Mendelssohn's Unawareness: Mendelssohn was likely unaware that his music was being used for a Christmas carol. He had composed the music for a secular purpose, and it was later paired with Christmas lyrics without his direct consent.

4. Publication: The melody by Mendelssohn, which became associated with "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," was published in a collection of secular songs in the mid-19th century. It was titled "Gutenberg Cantata."

5. Popularization: The carol gained popularity over the years, and it was first published with the current lyrics in the 1855 Christmas carol collection called "Christmas Carols New and Old." Since then, it has become one of the most beloved and frequently performed Christmas carols.

So, while Felix Mendelssohn did contribute the melody that is now used for "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," the song's lyrics and its transformation into a Christmas carol were the work of others who adapted his music for this purpose.