Author Topic: What is your favorite Christmas song?  (Read 15259 times)

Offline ednbarby

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What is your favorite Christmas song?
« on: December 07, 2006, 04:48:34 pm »
Have to go with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."  I just love the sound of it, and the line "Through the years, we all will be together - if the fates allow."
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Offline Kd5000

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2006, 05:12:47 pm »
Edna, that was my 2nd choice. First one was Nat King Cole singing THE CHRISTMAS SONG.  Though I've heard the lyrics so many times, CHesnuts roasting on an open fire..., I might be getting sick of it.   I've never set outside and roasted chestnuts. Gotta try it one of these days.   :)

I find the piece that Bach wrote, "Jesu,  Joy of Man's Desires' to be particularly moving, especially if heard in a great Cathedral. It's usually on X-mas albums, don't know if Bach wrote it for Christmas.

Offline David In Indy

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2006, 05:13:08 pm »
I love all of those songs, but my favorite is "O Holy Night". That song is just so beautiful.  :D

Edit: Another favorite song of mine is "Carol of the Bells" but I don't think I saw it on the list.

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
"Throw cares away."
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev'rywhere
Filling the air

O how happy are their tones
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas

On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home

Edit: I made a typing boo boo.  :(
« Last Edit: December 11, 2006, 06:05:29 pm by David925 »
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Offline ednbarby

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2006, 05:25:10 pm »
I love all of those songs, but my favorite is "O Holy Night". That song is just so beautiful.  :D

Edit: Another favorite song of mine is "Carol of the Bells" but I don't think I saw it on the list.

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
"Throw oars away."
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev'rywhere
Filling the air

O how happy are their tones
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas

On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home


This is the one I meant by "Christmas Eve (Ring Ye Bells)."  Oopsies.  Lemme fix that...  I called it Christmas Eve because that's what it's called on Trans-Siberian Orchestra's CD "Christmas Eve and Other Stories" - GREAT Christmas record, by the way, especially if you're into rock like I am...  There's an all instrumental version of "O Holy Night" on that one that is so beautiful it literally brings tears to my eyes.
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2006, 05:41:28 pm »
Hope ya don't mind - Ah was able to cheat & change ma vote. I DO like Feliz Navidad, but ma undisputed christmas favourite song is "Minuit chrétien". Didn't recognize it among those english titles, until I started readin the posts - and there it was - Oh Holy Night. The song was actually written over a hundred years ago by a french priest. Definitively defines the meanin a Christmas, for me. But please, give me the french, original version:

"Minuit chrétien c’est l’heure solennelle
Où l’homme Dieu descendit jusqu’à nous,
Pour effacer la tâche originelle,
Et de Son Père arrêter le courroux.
Le monde entier tressaille d’espérance,
A cette nuit qui lui donne un Sauveur.
Peuple à genoux, attends Ta délivrance,
Nöel, Nöel, voici le Rédempteur,
Nöel, Nöel, voici le Rédempteur."
« Last Edit: December 07, 2006, 05:45:57 pm by Sheriff Roland »
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Offline ednbarby

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2006, 05:48:41 pm »
O Holy Night is right up there for me, too.  I think it's just about the most beautiful melody ever written.  But being decidedly unholy myself, it's hard to call it my very favorite.  I also really love the melancholy sound to God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman.  But pour moi, Have Yourself... just has it all - a hint of melancholia but mostly a lot of warmth and reverence for the "faithful friends who are dear to us" - to me, our true families - who travel near to us once more.  And that line I cited that I just love, love, love.

And this:

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough, and have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
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Offline Mikaela

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2006, 06:32:47 pm »
I voted for "other" since my favourite will be one of my own country's traditional carols.

But of the English ones listed, I'm especially partial to "God rest ye merry, Gentlemen".

Plus, "Jarhead" proved to me just what an eminent song that "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer" tune is. In fact, I thought the thing had been created especially for "Jarhead". Had no idea there really *was* a song like that at all!

Offline David In Indy

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #7 on: December 08, 2006, 12:27:06 am »
This is the one I meant by "Christmas Eve (Ring Ye Bells)."  Oopsies.  Lemme fix that...  I called it Christmas Eve because that's what it's called on Trans-Siberian Orchestra's CD "Christmas Eve and Other Stories" - GREAT Christmas record, by the way, especially if you're into rock like I am...  There's an all instrumental version of "O Holy Night" on that one that is so beautiful it literally brings tears to my eyes.


I'm sure that song probably has several names Barb. I've always known it as Carol of the Bells. :D
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Offline Fran

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #8 on: December 08, 2006, 12:37:42 am »
My favorite is "Do You Hear What I Hear?" -- especially this verse:

Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say! Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere....



Offline delalluvia

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #9 on: December 08, 2006, 01:21:03 am »
Carol of the Bells is my favorite.  Thanks so much for the lyrics.  I never knew them.

I also love another song, it's called O come, o come Emmanuel' which is bizarre since I've been sick to death of anything that smacks of the Middle East for years now:

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.


and, of all things, Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton:

Hey, maybe Ill dye my hair
Maybe Ill move somewhere
Maybe Ill get a car
Maybe Ill drive so far
Theyll all lose track
Me, Ill bounce right back
Maybe Ill sleep real late
Maybe Ill lose some weight
Maybe Ill clear my junk
Maybe Ill just get drunk on apple wine
Me, Ill be just

Fine and dandy
Lord its like a hard candy christmas
Im barely getting through tomorrow
But still I wont let
Sorrow bring me way down

Ill be fine and dandy
Lord its like a hard candy christmas
Im barely getting through tomorrow
But still I wont let
Sorrow get me way down

Hey, maybe Ill learn to sew
Maybe Ill just lie low
Maybe Ill hit the bars
Maybe Ill count the stars until dawn
Me, I will go on

Maybe Ill settle down
Maybe Ill just leave town
Maybe Ill have some fun
Maybe Ill meet someone
And make him mine
Me, Ill be just

Fine and dandy
Lord its like a hard candy christmas
Im barely getting throung tomorrow
But still I wont let
Sorrow bring me way down

Ill be fine and dandy
Lord its like a hard candy christmas
Im barely getting through tomorrow
But still I wont let
Sorrow bring me way down

Ill be fine and dandy
Lord its like a hard candy christmas
Im barely getting through tomorrow
But still I wont let
Sorrow bring me way down

cause Ill be fine
(Ill be fine)
Oh, Ill be fine
« Last Edit: December 08, 2006, 01:28:00 am by delalluvia »

Offline delalluvia

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #10 on: December 08, 2006, 01:26:59 am »
Plus, "Jarhead" proved to me just what an eminent song that "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer" tune is. In fact, I thought the thing had been created especially for "Jarhead".

Sadly, no.  It's a perennial now.

Lyrics:

Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Walking home from our house Christmas eve.
You can say there's no such thing as Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.

She'd been drinkin' too much egg nog,
And we'd begged her not to go.
But she forgot her medication,
So she stumbled out the door into the snow.

When we found her Christmas mornin',
At the scene of the attack.
There were hoof prints on her forehead,
And incriminatin' Claus marks on her back.

Grandma got run over by a reindeer,
Walkin' home from our house Christmas eve.
You can say there's no such thing as Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.

Now were all so proud of Grandpa,
He's been takin' this so well.
See him in there watchin' football,
Drinkin' beer and playin' cards with cousin Mel.

It's not Christmas without Grandma.
All the family's dressed in black.
And we just can't help but wonder:
Should we open up her gifts or send them back? [send them back!]

Grandma got run over by a reindeer,
Walkin' home from our house Christmas eve.
You can say there's no such thing as Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.

Now the goose is on the table
And the pudding made of fig.
And a blue and silver candle,
That would just have matched the hair in Grandma's wig.

I've warned all my friends and neighbours:
"Better watch out for yourselves."
They should never give a license,
To a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves.

Grandma got run over by a reindeer,
Walkin' home from our house, Christmas eve.
You can say there's no such thing as Santa,
But as for me and Grandpa, we believe.

« Last Edit: December 08, 2006, 02:40:30 am by delalluvia »

Offline serious crayons

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #11 on: December 08, 2006, 02:12:31 am »
I love "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." If you didn't know it was published in 1943 (which I didn't, at first), you'd be able to figure it out by all the sad mid-WWII references. The two determinedly cheerful banishment of troubles, the mention of old friends now (presumably) gone, the reminiscing about happier days in the past and, as Barb says, the wistful hope for happy togetherness ahead -- but only "if the fates allow ..."

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. 

For more upbeat times, I love "Carol of the Bells," too! It sounds so Dickensian to me.

Offline David In Indy

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #12 on: December 08, 2006, 02:31:47 am »
My favorite is "Do You Hear What I Hear?" -- especially this verse:

Said the king to the people everywhere,
"Listen to what I say! Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people, everywhere....




Oh, I LOVE that song, Fran!

Like I said earlier, I love all these songs, but "Do You Hear What I Hear" brings back some very special memories for me.  :)
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Offline serious crayons

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #13 on: December 08, 2006, 10:58:00 am »
"Do You Hear What I Hear" brings back some very special memories for me.  :)

Me too! Of the sixth-grade school concert! That was my favorite song. Come to think of it, I love just about anything that reminds me of elementary-school Christmases. Like those Lifesaver "Sweet Story Books." Someone gave me that once in the class gift exchange and I was soooo  excited.

Of course, these days they don't do that stuff in public schools. Which I understand and in fact totally agree with. But still, in a way it's kind of sad ...  :-\

Offline Kelda

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #14 on: December 08, 2006, 11:22:50 am »
I'm never so bothered about the lyrics of carols but more the tune..given I have to play from the Chrustmas carol book over and over and over and over. Ones that come to mind from last night that haven't already been mentioned are:

When a child is born
Coventry Carol
Good King Wensless
Sweet Chiming Bells.

more modern pop songs.. last christmas,  merry christmas everyone

other more child friendly ones:

Winter Wonderland
Oh Christmas Tree
all I want for Christmas is my 2 Front Teeth
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Offline Kelda

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #15 on: December 08, 2006, 11:41:03 am »
Oh and the teenage crush thread reminded me of one of my all time favourite songs.

Fairytale of New York by the Pogues (Featuring Kirsty MacColl)

It's such a gorgous and uplifting song.

How many times have I been in the middle of a crowd celebrrating Hogmonay or Christmas when they've all been singing their hearts out to this? Too many to remember!

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Offline David In Indy

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #16 on: December 08, 2006, 09:37:38 pm »
I'm never so bothered about the lyrics of carols but more the tune..given I have to play from the Chrustmas carol book over and over and over and over. Ones that come to mind from last night that haven't already been mentioned are:

When a child is born
Coventry Carol
Good King Wensless
Sweet Chiming Bells.

more modern pop songs.. last christmas,  merry christmas everyone

other more child friendly ones:

Winter Wonderland
Oh Christmas Tree
all I want for Christmas is my 2 Front Teeth


Coventry Carol. That's another beautiful Christmas song. :)
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Offline dot-matrix

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #17 on: December 09, 2006, 03:36:42 am »
I voted for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" because I just love that song and Judy Garland and the film Meet Me in St Louie. But I also really like "Believe" from the film The Polar Express sung by Josh Groban.  Gives me goose bumps.

 ::)

Believe

Children sleeping
snow is softly falling.
Dreams are calling
like bells in the distance.

We were dreamers not so long ago.
But one by one we all had to grow up.

When it seems the magic slipped away,
we find it all again on Christmas day...

Believe in what your heart is saying,
hear the melody that's playing.
There's no time to waste,
there's so much to celebrate.

Believe in what you feel inside,
And give your dreams the wings to fly.
You have everything you need,
If you just believe.

Trains move quickly to their journey's end.
Destinations are where we begin again.
Ships go sailing far across the sea.
Trust in starlight, to get where they need to be.

When it seems that we have lost our way,
we find ourselves again on Christmas day...

Believe in what your heart is saying,
hear the melody that's playing.
There's no time to waste,
there's so much to celebrate.

Believe in what you feel inside,
And give your dreams the wings to fly.
You have everything you need,
If you just believe.

If you just believe.
If you just believe.
If you just believe.
Just believe.
Just believe.
Life is not a dress rehearsal

Offline Lynne

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Tennessee Christmas
« Reply #18 on: December 09, 2006, 04:22:55 am »
I believe "Tennessee Christmas" was also recorded by Alabama.  It has a nice melody.  These lyrics are from Amy Grant & Gary Chapman, 1983.  This song provided a sense of home and warmth in the years I wasn't able to be with family over the holidiay.

Tennessee Christmas

Come on, weather man,
Give us a forecast snowy white
Can't you hear the prayers
Of every childlike heart tonight
Rockies are calling, Denver snow falling
Somebody said it's four feet deep
But it doesn't matter, give me the laughter
I'm gonna choose to keep.

Another tender Tennessee Christmas
The only Christmas for me
Where the love circles around us
Like the gifts around our tree
Well, I know there's more snow up in Colorado
Than my roof will ever see
But a tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.

Every now and then I get a wandering urge to see
Maybe California, maybe Tinsel Town's for me
There's a parade there, we'd have it made there
Bring home a tan for New Year's Eve
Sure sounds inviting, awfully exciting
Still I think I'm gonna keep.

Another tender Tennessee Christmas
The only Christmas for me
Where the love circles around us
Like the gifts around our tree
Well, they say in L.A. it's a warm holiday
It's the only place to be
But a tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.
"Laß sein. Laß sein."

Offline dot-matrix

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #19 on: December 09, 2006, 04:58:37 am »
Another fun song off Alabama's Christmas in Dixie CD is Thistlehair the Christmas Bear.  My neices love to sing this one.

The city's full of manager scenes and stores lit up in red and green
But down the road just out of town there's more magic to be found
The countryside is all aglow with holly trees and mistletoe
And in them woods there lives a bear known to all as Thistlehair
Oh Thistlehair the Christmas bear spreadin' the good news everywhere
About Christmas time and what it means to all the children of the world
Every little boy and girl out there loves Thistlehair

He comes around this time of year spreading lots of Christmas cheer
The kids all love his shiny coat and the smell of honey on his nose
He tells them all about the Wondrous Star and everything that it stands for
The birthday we all celebrate is still our favorite holiday
Oh Thistlehair the Christmas bear spreadin' the good news everywhere
About Christmas time and what it means to all the children of the world
Every little boy and girl out there loves Thistlehair

Wherever you find old Thistlehair there'll be music in the air
He dances 'round the Christmas tree every single Christmas Eve
Then he and all his furry friends gather 'round the fire again
Singin' 'bout the Angels' wings and the gifts of love that Christmas brings
Oh Thistlehair the Christmas bear spreadin' the good news everywhere
About Christmas time and what it means to all the children of the world
Every little boy and girl out there loves Thistlehair

Thistlehair the Christmas bear
La la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la
Thistlehair the Christmas bear
La la la la la
La la la la la
La la la la la
 
 
 
Life is not a dress rehearsal

Offline Lynne

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #20 on: December 09, 2006, 05:14:47 am »
That looks nice, Dottie!  I'll have to look for an Alabama holiday CD.  I only have the Amy Grant version.
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Offline dot-matrix

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #21 on: December 09, 2006, 03:39:01 pm »
another different one I love is

Christmas For Cowboys from John Denvers Rocky Mountain Christmas

Tall in the saddle, we spend Christmas Day, driving the cattle over snow
covered-plains.
All of the good gifts given today, ours is the sky and the wide open range.
Back in the cities they have different ways, football and eggnog and Christmas
parades.
I'll take my saddle, I'll take the reins, It's Christmas for cowboys wide-open
plains.

A campfire for warmth as we stop for the night, the stars overhead are
Christmas tree lights.
The wind sings a hymn as we bow down to pray, It's Christmas for cowboys,
wide-open plains.

Tall in the saddle we spend Christmas Day, driving the cattle over
snow-covered plains.
All of the good gifts given today, ours is the sky and the wide open range.
It's Christmas for cowboys, wide open plains.
Life is not a dress rehearsal

Offline southendmd

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #22 on: December 11, 2006, 05:54:32 pm »
I love all of those songs, but my favorite is "O Holy Night". That song is just so beautiful.  :D

Edit: Another favorite song of mine is "Carol of the Bells" but I don't think I saw it on the list.

Hark! how the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
"Throw oars away."
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From ev'rywhere
Filling the air

O how happy are their tones
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas

On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To ev'ry home


David,
I love this song, too.  I always thought the line was "throw cares away". LOL
I believe it's originally Ukrainian.

Here's my new favorite:  "My Grown Up Christmas List".  I first heard Michael Buble sing this, now many others have as well.


Grown-up Christmas List

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well, I'm all grown-up now
Can you still help somehow?
I'm not a child, but my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself, but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in that blind belief can we ever find the truth

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal our hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end

This is my grown-up Christmas list
This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown-up Christmas list


Paul
« Last Edit: December 11, 2006, 06:31:42 pm by southendmd »

Offline David In Indy

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #23 on: December 11, 2006, 06:03:52 pm »
David,
I love this song, too.  I always thought the line was "throw cares away". LOL
I believe it's originally Ukrainian.

Here's my new favorite:  "My Grown Up Christmas List".  I first heard Michael Buble sing this, now many others have as well.


You're right! It is "Throw cares away". Thanks for pointing it out. I'll go back and fix it!  :D

I love those lyrics to "My Grown Up Christmas List". If only those words were possible.

Thanks Paul!  :)
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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #24 on: December 11, 2006, 10:41:44 pm »
I have to go with "Away in a Manger". That was the last Christmas carol I can remember my family singing in the presence of my maternal grandfather, just days before he succumbed, while in hospice care at his home, to terminal bone cancer. This was in December of 1998, in Sugar Land, Texas. The third and concluding verse was especially poignant under the circumstances:

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 take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

Offline RouxB

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #25 on: December 15, 2006, 12:17:38 am »
Non-secular is most definitely O Come O Come Emmanuel
Secular faves would be Santa Baby, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and The Christmas Song

And the nostalgic favorite-sung by me, age six, Holy Spirit School Christmas program (I got a little stage fright and just stood there for what seemed like weeks but was more like 37 seconds):

Jolly old Saint Nicholas lean your ear this way
Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say
Christmas Eve is coming soon, now you dear old man
Whisper what you'll bring to me, tell me if you can.

When the clock is striking twelve, when I'm fast asleep
Down the chimney broad and black
With your pack you'll creap
All the stockings you will find hanging in a row
Mine will be the smallest one you'll be sure to know

Heathen

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #26 on: December 16, 2006, 02:32:01 pm »
I have a weakness for the version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings by the Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan but I don't know which album it's on.
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Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #27 on: December 16, 2006, 03:08:29 pm »
On this list I had to go with "Silver Bells." My trouble is that I've always been excessively fond of the music of Christmas, to the degree that I have to have two lists of favorites, sacred and secular. And I can't really pick one favorite on either list.

For the secular list, as mentioned, the "top three" would be the aforementioned "Silver Bells," also "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" (by Meredith Wilson, who wrote The Music Man), and then "The Christmas Song," aka "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire."

Many would possibly consider "White Christmas" to be the greatest Christmas song ever written, but I'm finding that as I grow older, more and more I would rather not hear it. It's a beautiful song, no doubt, but its lyrics speak of loss and longing. My aversion, I know, is completely related to my own situation: Single middle-aged gay man, only child (no extended family that I'm close to), mother and all grandparents deceased--I won't go on. So I prefer to focus on happier songs, thus "Silver Bells," etc.

As for sacred songs, the top three, actually in the following order, are "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" (maybe that has something to do with its use at the conclusion of A Charlie Brown Christmas  ;D ), "O Come, All Ye Faithful," and "Joy to the World" (no, not the Three Dog Night song  ;D ). One thing those carols all have in common, they're easy for a non-musician to belt out.  ;D

Tell you what, I was surprised to read of Del's fondness for "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." (Del, if you read this, are you familiar with the version from "A Fresh Aire Christmas" by Mannheim Steamroller? Very haunting.) I've seen this carol described as a medieval Christmas carol that didn't exist in the Middle Ages. As we know it, it was put together in the mid-nineteeth century by John Mason Neale, one of those quirky--and I wouldn't be surprised if he was gay--Oxford Movement Church of England clergymen. Neale created the carol out of antiphons to be sung with the Canticle Magnificat ("My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord") at Vespers from Dec. 17 through Dec. 23. (An antiphon is a little verse, often from the Psalms, appropriate to the season or occasion, that is sung before and usually repeated after a Psalm or Canticle.)
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline Ellemeno

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #28 on: December 16, 2006, 10:13:50 pm »
Put me in the "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" camp.  Though of course I love others too.

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #29 on: December 16, 2006, 10:49:45 pm »

Tell you what, I was surprised to read of Del's fondness for "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." (Del, if you read this, are you familiar with the version from "A Fresh Aire Christmas" by Mannheim Steamroller? Very haunting.)

Why are you surprised?  OK, I'm surprised I like it too.  No, I'm not familiar with Manheim Steamroller's version.  I'm pretty much a musical grunt.

Quote
I've seen this carol described as a medieval Christmas carol that didn't exist in the Middle Ages. As we know it, it was put together in the mid-nineteeth century by John Mason Neale, one of those quirky--and I wouldn't be surprised if he was gay--Oxford Movement Church of England clergymen. Neale created the carol out of antiphons to be sung with the Canticle Magnificat ("My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord") at Vespers from Dec. 17 through Dec. 23. (An antiphon is a little verse, often from the Psalms, appropriate to the season or occasion, that is sung before and usually repeated after a Psalm or Canticle.)

Wow, thanks for the info.  Amazing what histories some carols have.

Offline delalluvia

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #30 on: December 16, 2006, 10:54:05 pm »
I like the CD by Loreena McKennitt "'A Winter Garden, five songs for the season".

She sings Coventry Carol, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas, Snow and Seeds of Love.

Recommend!   :)
« Last Edit: December 17, 2006, 12:38:50 pm by delalluvia »

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #31 on: December 17, 2006, 03:11:46 am »
Why are you surprised?  OK, I'm surprised I like it too.  No, I'm not familiar with Manheim Steamroller's version.  I'm pretty much a musical grunt.

Sorry, it just surprised me that you would be fond of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" because you are so openly not Christian.

The Mannheim Steamroller version includes vocals sung in Latin--very pretty and very haunting. I'm sorry I can't provide a link.
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Offline southendmd

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #32 on: December 17, 2006, 11:40:18 am »
I like the CD by Lorena McKennit "'A Winter Garden, five songs for the season".

Del, this is one of my all-time favorite albums.  I even listen to it outside of Christmas (especially "Seeds of Love").

Here's another favorite:  Jessye Norman's Christmastide.  It starts with O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and includes both sacred and non-sacred songs.  With a boy choir, no less.  She really belts on this one.  "Christmastide" also known as "Jessye's Carol" was written especially for her.


Offline delalluvia

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #33 on: December 17, 2006, 12:37:16 pm »
Sorry, it just surprised me that you would be fond of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" because you are so openly not Christian.

Don't be sorry, it's surprising to me too, but I guess I just like what music I like, no matter who makes it or why.  There are some beautiful masses by Beethoven that drive me to tears.

Quote
The Mannheim Steamroller version includes vocals sung in Latin--very pretty and very haunting. I'm sorry I can't provide a link.

I went to Amazon, but peversely enough, that single track was only available on one of their Xmas CDs and it was the box set which is priced much more than I want to pay for it.  There is even a 'listen' option, but for some reason I don't have the plugins and am such a computer illiterate that I don't know how to download the plugin so I can at least listen to a bit of it.  >:(

Quote
Quote from: delalluvia on December 16, 2006, 09:54:05 pm
I like the CD by Loreena McKennitt "'A Winter Garden, five songs for the season".

Quote
Del, this is one of my all-time favorite albums.  I even listen to it outside of Christmas (especially "Seeds of Love").

Mine too!  I only play it during the holiday season, so I can look forward to listening to it.  :)

Quote
Here's another favorite:  Jessye Norman's Christmastide.  It starts with O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and includes both sacred and non-sacred songs.  With a boy choir, no less.  She really belts on this one.  "Christmastide" also known as "Jessye's Carol" was written especially for her.

Off to Amazon!  Found it!  Thanks.  :)

Offline Jeff Wrangler

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #34 on: December 17, 2006, 06:49:43 pm »
Don't be sorry, it's surprising to me too, but I guess I just like what music I like, no matter who makes it or why.  There are some beautiful masses by Beethoven that drive me to tears.

I went to Amazon, but peversely enough, that single track was only available on one of their Xmas CDs and it was the box set which is priced much more than I want to pay for it.  There is even a 'listen' option, but for some reason I don't have the plugins and am such a computer illiterate that I don't know how to download the plugin so I can at least listen to a bit of it.  >:(


Sorry to hear that, Del. Goddamn bitch of an unsatisfactory situation!  >:(  ;D (I'd be in the same boat as you, trying to download the whatever to listen to it.)
"It is required of every man that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide."--Charles Dickens.

Offline CellarDweller

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #35 on: June 07, 2007, 12:52:51 pm »
three very "non traditional" songs.

Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You"

Kelly Clarkson "Grown Up Christmas List"

Faith Hill  "Where Are You Christmas"


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Offline loneleeb3

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #36 on: June 07, 2007, 01:15:43 pm »
There are so Many!
 I love O'Holy Night sung by Georgia Boy John Berry.

My current favorite is Mary Did You Know -I like Clay Aikens version but any version is beautiful.
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Offline Lynne

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Re: Tennessee Christmas
« Reply #37 on: November 29, 2007, 11:24:44 pm »
Now that I'm YouTube savvy, I found a video of my favorites XMess song I mentioned last year.  I've seen the snow in Colorado since then, and there's a couple of prohetic lines noted...
-Lynne


[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj9EqOJisTY&feature=related[/youtube]

I believe "Tennessee Christmas" was also recorded by Alabama.  It has a nice melody.  These lyrics are from Amy Grant & Gary Chapman, 1983.  This song provided a sense of home and warmth in the years I wasn't able to be with family over the holidiay.

Tennessee Christmas

Come on, weather man,
Give us a forecast snowy white
Can't you hear the prayers
Of every childlike heart tonight
Rockies are calling, Denver snow falling
Somebody said it's four feet deep
But it doesn't matter, give me the laughter
I'm gonna choose to keep.

Another tender Tennessee Christmas
The only Christmas for me
Where the love circles around us
Like the gifts around our tree
Well, I know there's more snow up in Colorado
Than my roof will ever see
But a tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.

Every now and then I get a wandering urge to see
Maybe California, maybe Tinsel Town's for me

There's a parade there, we'd have it made there
Bring home a tan for New Year's Eve
Sure sounds inviting, awfully exciting
Still I think I'm gonna keep.

Another tender Tennessee Christmas
The only Christmas for me
Where the love circles around us
Like the gifts around our tree
Well, they say in L.A. it's a warm holiday
It's the only place to be
But a tender Tennessee Christmas
Is the only Christmas for me.
"Laß sein. Laß sein."

Offline Brown Eyes

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #38 on: December 06, 2007, 01:39:20 pm »
I voted for "other" because my favorite is "Good King Wenceslas"


My Mom's all-time favorite is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."  She made a cassette tape (years ago) with a zillion different versions of that song and would play it in her car over, and over, and over...

It's a nice song but it got to be a bit much!  ;D


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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #39 on: December 06, 2007, 01:44:25 pm »
three very "non traditional" songs.

Mariah Carey "All I Want For Christmas Is You"

Kelly Clarkson "Grown Up Christmas List"

Faith Hill  "Where Are You Christmas"

Could you BE any gayer???
Said in my best Chandler Bing voice!! LOL :laugh:
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Offline Sheriff Roland

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #40 on: December 06, 2007, 02:00:59 pm »
This is not my favourite Chrismas song, but ....

You guys hear "Christmas Shoes" by Bob Carlysle? Got a country feel to it.

Corny as ol heck and hadn't heard it until last year but ... it's got me cryin too dang regularly. Heard it twice so far this year.

Just tried to download it off limewire and Kenny Chesney's apparently got a version of it out too.

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #41 on: December 06, 2007, 03:07:03 pm »
This is not my favourite Chrismas song, but ....

You guys hear "Christmas Shoes" by Bob Carlysle? Got a country feel to it.

Corny as ol heck and hadn't heard it until last year but ... it's got me cryin too dang regularly. Heard it twice so far this year.

Just tried to download it off limewire and Kenny Chesney's apparently got a version of it out too.



I love that one!!
You need to hear Skip Ewings Christmas Carol if you've not!
It's a beauty and it gets the waterworks goin too!
I'll look for it on You-Tube when I get home.
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Offline Toast

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #42 on: December 06, 2007, 04:10:18 pm »
My favourite hands-down Christmas song is Christmas in the Drunk Tank - oops really called Fairytale Of New York by the Pogues.

It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won't see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you

Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I've got a feeling
This year's for me and you
So Happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true

They've got cars big as bars
They've got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It's no place for the old
When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me
Broadway was waiting for me

You were handsome
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging,
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night

The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day

You're a bum
You're a punk
You're an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it's our last

The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day


I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone
I've built my dreams around you

The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas Day

Perfect performance and an amazing video - with Matt Dillon making an appearance.

Each year I try to find a brand new Christmas CD to play repeatedly
Last year it was James Taylor's - It was Carly Simon the year before.
This year I am playing Josh Groban's Noel.

Merry Christmas

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #43 on: December 06, 2007, 11:46:41 pm »
Toast!! Great song! Nice to see you back!! I'm glad you did not fade away  xsuccously!!

As far as Xmas songs go, I favor Barenaked Ladies. Aren't they your countrymen? Or do you care to claim them??
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Offline Toast

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Re: What is your favorite Christmas song?
« Reply #44 on: December 08, 2007, 12:23:19 pm »
Wow.  Lee

I have no problem accepting The Barenaked Ladies as our own Canadian Stars.

I knew they had Christmas songs on the go, but I have never listened to their 2004 "Barenaked for the Holidays."

I guess I'd better get a copy, but I don't expect it to be a favourite of mine, but not necessarily exxuccous.