It's common this time of year to bemoan the early arrival of Christmas carols, particularly over store PA systems. And while I will hum along, as I did today and last week at the craft store, I usually like to wait until after Thanksgiving to start the caroling.
But today was different. Today, my hospice patient had me push a button on an angel someone had given her, eliciting a tinny tune. But we sang along to "Silent Night" and kept going from there, together singing several of the Christmas classics. Such peace and joy on her face as she sang along, possibly remembering 90+ years of celebrations and carols. She talked about caroling as a child and receiving apples, oranges, and a few walnuts in her stocking. And I was so happy to help her find those memories. We laughed at the words we couldn't remember--I totally blanked on "O Little Town of Bethlehem"--but she actually did really well, all things considered, remembering words and having the breath to sing along. She complimented my singing voice, after "O Holy Night." We both said Johnny Mathis was one of our favorite Christmas crooners and I vowed to bring a copy of his CD next time. We even branched off into showtunes at some point, singing a bit from
Oklahoma and then
Sound of Music, and discussed the dearth of Thanksgiving songs (beyond "We Gather Together" and "Super Turkey," which of course she did not know), but we came around back to Christmas carols before I left 1 1/2 hours later, promising to bring the lyrics with me next time.
So, for next time, after Thanksgiving, here are the words to some of the songs I hope we'll sing:
Angels We
Have Heard On High
Angels we
have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains.
Glo-ori-a
In excelsis de-o
Glo-ori-a
In excelsis de-o
Shepherds,
why this Jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?
Glo-ori-a
In excelsis de-o
Glo-ori-a
In excelsis de-o
Come to
Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord,
The newborn King
Glo-ori-a
In excelsis de-o
Glo-ori-a
In excelsis de-o
Away in a
Manger
Away in a
manger,
No crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head;
The stars in the heavens
Looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay.
The cattle
are lowing,
The poor Baby wakes,
But little Lord Jesus,
No crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus;
Look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle
Till morning is nigh.
Be near
me, Lord Jesus;
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray!
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven
To live with Thee there.
The
Christmas Song
Chestnuts
roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.
Everybody
knows a turkey
And some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.
They know
that Santa’s on his way
He’s loaded lots of toys
And goodies on his sleigh
And every mother’s child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer
Really know how to fly.
And so I’m
offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it’s been said
Many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you.
Deck the
Halls
Deck the
halls with boughs of holly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
’Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
See the
blazing Yule before us.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fast away
the old year passes.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Do You
Hear What I Hear?
Said the
night wind to the little lamb,
Do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
Do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite
Said the
little lamb to the
shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky,
shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea
Said the
shepherd boy to the
mighty king,
Do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
Do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Said the
king to the people
everywhere,
Listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
Listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in
the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light
“From home to home, and heart
to heart, from one place to
another. The warmth and joy of
Christmas, brings us closer to
each other.”
The First
Noel
The first
Noel the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
In fields as they lay,
In fields where they lay
Keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night
That was so deep.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
They
looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far,
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
And by the
light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far,
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star
Wherever it went.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!
The
Friendly Beasts
Jesus our brother kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude.
And the friendly beasts around him stood
Jesus our brother, kind and good.
"I," said the donkey, all shaggy and brown,
"I carried his mother up hill and down
I carried his mother to Bethlehem town."
"I," said the donkey, all shaggy and
brown.
"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I gave him my manger for his bed
I gave him my hay to pillow his head."
"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I," said the sheep, with curly horn,
"I gave him my wool for a blanket warm
He wore my coat on Christmas morn."
"I," said the sheep, with curly horn.
"I,"
said the dove, from the rafters high
"I cooed him to sleep so he would not cry
We cooed him to sleep, my love and I
"I," said the dove, from the rafters
high.
Thus every beast, by some good spell
In the stable rude was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel
The gift he gave Emmanuel
The gift he gave Emmanuel
Frosty
the Snowman
Frosty the
snowman was a jolly
happy soul,
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the
snowman is a fairy tale,
they say,
He was made of snow but the children
Know how he came to life one day.
There must
have been some magic
in that old silk hat they found.
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around.
O, Frosty
the snowman
Was alive as he could be,
And the children say he could laugh
And play just the same as you and me.
Thumpety
thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpety thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.
Frosty the
snowman knew
The sun was hot that day,
So he said, “Let’s run and
We’ll have some fun
Now before I melt away.”
Down to
the village,
With a broomstick in his hand,
Running here and there all
Around the square saying,
Catch me if you can.
He led
them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop.
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler “Stop!”
For Frosty
the snow man
Had to hurry on his way,
But he waved goodbye saying,
“Don’t you cry,
I’ll be back again some day.”
Thumpety
thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.
Thumpety thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.
God Rest
Ye, Merry Gentlemen
God Rest
Ye Merry, Gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ, our Saviour,
Was born on Christmas day,
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
In
Bethlehem, in Jewry,
This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger,
Upon this blessed morn;
That which His Mother Mary,
Did nothing take in scorn.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
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,
Comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Hark! The
Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the
herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Christ, by
highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the
herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Mild he
lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Risen with healing in his wings,
Light and life to all he brings,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Hail, the heaven-born Prince
of Peace!
Hark! the
herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Hail the
Heaven-born Prince of Peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lay His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Hark! the
herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
Have
Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Have
yourself a merry little
Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
Our troubles will be out of sight
Have
yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
Our troubles will be miles away.
Here we
are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.
Through
the years we all will
be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the
highest bough.
And have yourself a merry little
Christmas now.
“Perhaps the best Yuletide
decoration is being
wreathed in smiles.”
The Holly
& The Ivy
The holly and the ivy
When they are full grown,
Of all the trees in the wood
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly wears a blossom
As white as any flower,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our Saviour.
The rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do sinners good.
The rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
The rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ,
To redeem us all.
The rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
The holly and the ivy,
When they are full grown,
Of all the trees in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
The rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.
Holly
Jolly Christmas
Have a
holly, jolly Christmas;
It’s the best time of the year
I don’t
know if there’ll be snow,
But have a cup of cheer.
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
And when you walk down the street
Say Hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet.
Oh, ho,
the mistletoe
Hung where you can see;
Somebody waits for you;
Kiss her once for me.
Have a holly jolly Christmas,
And in case you didn’t hear,
Oh by golly, have a holly,
Jolly Christmas this year.
I’ll Be
Home For Christmas
I’ll be
home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
Christmas
Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.
I Saw
Three Ships
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning.
It Came
Upon The Midnight Clear
It came
upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
With news of joy foretold,
“Peace on the earth, good will to men
From heaven’s all gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.
Still
through the cloven skies they
come,
Love’s banner all unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
Over all the weary world.
Above its sad and lowly plains
Old echoes plaintive ring,
And ever over its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
It’s
Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
It’s beginning
to look a lot like
Christmas
Ev’rywhere you go
Take a look in the five-and-ten,
Glistening once again
With candy canes and silver
lanes aglow.
It’s
beginning to look a lot
like Christmas
Toys in ev’ry store
But the prettiest sight to see
Is the holly that will be
On your own front door.
A pair of
hopalong boots and a
pistol that shoots
Is the wish of Barney and Ben
Dolls that will talk and will go for
a walk
Is the hope of Janice and Jen
And mom and dad can hardly wait
for school to start again.
It’s
beginning to look a lot like
Christmas
Ev’rywhere you go
There’s a tree in the Grand Hotel,
On ein the park as well
The sturdy kind that doesn’t
mind the snow.
It’s
beginning to look a lot like
Christmas
Soon the bells will start
And the
thing that will make
them ring
Is the carol that you sing
Right within your heart.
It’s The
Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
It’s the
most wonderful time of the year.
With the kids jingle belling,
And everyone telling you,
“Be of good cheer,”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
There’ll
be parties for hosting,
Marshmallows for toasting and
Caroling out in the snow.
There’ll be scary ghost stories and
Tales of the glories of Christmases
Long, long ago.
It’s the
most wonderful time of the year.
There’ll be much mistletoeing
And hearts will be glowing,
When loved ones are near.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Good King
Wenceslas
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath'ring winter fuel
"Hither,
page, and stand by me
If thou know'st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
"Bring
me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear him thither."
Page and monarch forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather
"Sire,
the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."
In his master's steps he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing
Jingle
Bells
Dashing
through the snow
On a one-horse open sleigh,
Over the fields we go,
Laughing all the way;
Bells on bob-tail ring,
Making spirits bright,
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Jingle
bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
A day or
two ago,
I thought I’d take a ride,
And soon Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side;
The horse was lean and lank;
Misfortune seemed his lot;
He got into a drifted bank,
And we, we got upsot.
Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle all the way!
What fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Joy to
the World
Joy to the
world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and
nature sing.
Joy to the
earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
while fields and floods,
rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more
let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessing flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules
the world with truth
and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of His love.
“For somehow, not only at
Christmas, but all the long year
through, the joy that you
give to others is the joy
that comes back to you.”
Let It
Snow!
Oh, the
weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we’ve no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
It doesn’t
show signs of stopping,
And I brought some corn for popping;
The lights are turned way down low,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
When we
finally say good night,
How I’ll hate going out in the storm;
But if you really hold me tight,
All the way home I’ll be warm.
The fire
is slowly dying,
And, my dear, we’re still good-bye-ing,
But as long as you love me so.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Little
Drummer Boy
Come they
told me
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see,
Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
Little
Baby
Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too,
Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give our King
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you!
Pa rum pum pum
On my drum.
Mary
nodded
Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him
Pa rum pum pum
I played my best for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
O Come, All
Ye Faithful
O come, all
ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye,
O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord.
Sing,
choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens
Of heaven above;
Glory to God,
Glory in the highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord.
Yea, Lord,
we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be
All glory given;
Son of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ, the Lord.
O Holy
Night
O holy
night,
The stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of
Our dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world
In sin and error pining,
Till He appeared
And the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of
hope,
The weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn.
Fall on
your knees,
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night,
O night divine!
O Little
Town Of Bethlehem
O little
town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ
is born of Mary,
And, gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth.
And praises sing to God the King.
And peace to men on earth.
Rudolph
The Red-Nosed Reindeer
You know
Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen,
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen.
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?
Rudolph
the red-nosed reindeer
(reindeer)
Had a very shiny nose
(like a light bulb)
And if you ever saw it
(saw it)
You would even say it glows
(like a flash light)
All of the other reindeer
(reindeer)
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
(Rudolph)
Play in any reindeer games
(like Monopoly)
Then one
foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
(Ho Ho Ho)
Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?
Then all the reindeer loved him
(loved him)
And they shouted out with glee
(yippee)
“Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
(reindeer)
You’ll go down in history!”
(like Columbus)
Santa
Claus Is Coming To Town
You better
watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He’s
making a list,
And checking it twice;
Gonna find out Who’s naughty and nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees
you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!
O! You
better watch out!
You better not cry.
Better not pout, I’m telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
Silent
Night
Silent
night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent
night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent
night, holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light!
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King!
Christ the Saviour is here,
Jesus the Saviour is here!
Silent
night, Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord at thy birth;
Jesus Lord at thy birth.
Silver
Bells
City
sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style.
In the air there’s
A feeling of Christmas.
Children
laughing, people passing,
Meeting smile after smile,
And on every street corner you’ll hear:
Silver
bells, silver bells,
It’s Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring,
Soon it will be Christmas day.
City
street lights,
Even stop lights,
Blink a bright red and green,
As the shoppers rush home
With their treasures.
Hear the
snow crunch,
See the kids bunch,
This is Santa’s big scene,
And above all this bustle you’ll hear:
Silver
bells, silver bells,
It’s Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring,
Soon it will be Christmas day.
“Christmas is the day that holds
all time together.”
Sleigh
Ride
Just hear
those sleigh bells jingling,
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it’s lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you,
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling “Yoo hoo,”
Come on, it’s lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
Giddy up,
giddy up, giddy up,
Let’s go, Let’s look at the show,
We’re riding in a wonderland of snow.
Giddy up,
giddy up, giddy up,
It’s grand, Just holding your hand,
We’re gliding along with a song
Of a wintry fairy land.
Our cheeks
are nice and rosy
And comfy cozy are we
We’re snuggled up together
Like two birds of a feather would be
Let’s take that road before us
And sing a chorus or two
Come on, it’s lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
There’s a
birthday party
At the home of Farmer Gray
It’ll be the perfect ending of a
perfect day
We’ll be singing the songs
We love to sing without a single stop,
At the fireplace while we watch
The chestnuts pop. Pop! pop! pop!
There’s a
happy feeling
Nothing in the world can buy,
When they pass around the chocolate
And the pumpkin pie
It’ll nearly be like a picture print
By Currier and Ives
These wonderful things are the things
We remember all through our lives!
Just hear
those sleigh bells jingling,
Ring ting tingling too
Come on, it’s lovely weather
For a
sleigh ride together with you,
Outside the snow is falling
And friends are calling “Yoo hoo,”
Come on, it’s lovely weather
For a sleigh ride together with you.
Up On The
Housetop
Up on the
housetop
Reindeer pause,
Out jumps good old Santa Claus.
Down thru’ the chimney
With lots of toys,
All for the little ones,
Christmas joys.
Ho, ho,
ho!
Who wouldn’t go!
Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn’t go!
Up on the housetop,
Click, click, click,
Down thru’ the chimney
With good Saint Nick.
First
comes the stocking
Of little Nell,
Oh, dear Santa
Fill it well;
Give her a dolly
That laughs and cries
One that will open
And shut her eyes.
Ho, ho,
ho!
Who wouldn’t go!
Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn’t go!
Up on the housetop,
Click, click, click,
Down thru’ the chimney
With good Saint Nick.
Next comes
the stocking
Of little Will,
Oh just see
What a glorious fill
Here is a hammer
And lots of tacks,
Also a ball
And a whip that cracks.
Ho, ho,
ho!
Who wouldn’t go!
Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn’t go!
Up on the housetop,
Click, click, click,
Down thru’ the chimney
With good Saint Nick.
“It was always said of him, that he
knew how to keep Christmas
well, if any man alive
possessed the knowledge.
May that be truly said of us, and all
of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed,
God Bless Us, Every One!”
We Three
Kings Of Orient Are
We three
kings of orient are,
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
O star of
wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a
King on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King for ever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
O star of
wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Frankincense
to offer have I,
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship Him, God most high.
O star of
wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
We Wish
You A Merry Christmas
We wish
you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!
We want
some figgy pudding
We want some figgy pudding
We want some figgy pudding
Please bring it right here!
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!
We won't
go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!
What
Child Is This?
What Child
is this, who laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this
is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies
He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this
is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Nails,
spear, shall pierce Him through,
The Cross be borne, for me, for you:
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this
is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
White
Christmas
I’m
dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I’m
dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.
Winter
Wonderland
Sleigh
bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We’re happy tonight,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Gone away
is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
In the
meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown
He’ll say: Are you married?
We’ll say: No man,
But you can do the job
When you’re in town.
Later on,
we’ll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid,
The plans that we’ve made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
In the
meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he’s a circus clown
We’ll have
lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kids knock him down.
When it
snows, ain’t it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We’ll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Walking in
a winter wonderland,
Walking in a winter wonderland.
We ate, too, though it's never the focal point of Christmas. I gave up the big roast dinner a few years back and have been much happier ever since. We had a corned beef hash and also orange biscuit breakfast, followed by gumbo and muffulettas later in the day. Not many snacks, just some Christmas cookies. And cheesecake. A big, delicious, plain cheesecake that I bought a few years ago from a friend at an auction for another friend but didn't collect until now (the cheesecake is not years old; the idea of the cheesecake is.) And it was so good! Best part was the crack, seriously, which signified the crack in the Whovian universe for us, perfect on the day of the Whovian Christmas special. 
And at some point, Sis went outside to the neighbors and took a rope climbing lesson. In short sleeves. Our neighbors are Jewish and were having a non-Christmas gathering of family and making a lot of food. So they invited us over for some; we took cookies and cheesecake. And Sis got a lesson in rope climbing from the dad of the house. I can't explain exactly what she did--there were clamps and belaying lines and carbiners and a full-torso harnass and she was supposed to bend a knee while extending an arm, then stand up on a rope and start again. Harder than it looked, I'm sure. But she had a good go at it and then swung around and hung upside-down. Goo tried it too, but Bud took a pass; I didn't even think about it. Some of the other kids and adults tried, too. And all we could all talk about was how warm it was. Most were in a single layer, not a coat in sight. The mom was even in flip-flops! It was a quirky but welcome addition to our Christmas day. 
