What is your favorite Christmas song?

[delalluvia]

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.

[serious crayons]

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.

[David In Indy]

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. 

[serious crayons]

"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 ... 

[Kelda]

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

[Kelda]

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!

[David In Indy]

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.

[dot-matrix]

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.

[Lynne]

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.

[dot-matrix]

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