Well, Shadylady, I have to thank you for sending me on this quest, because I have found (and bookmarked) a great website with many songs mentioning Yule or Yuletide - and most of the words are new to me, although the tunes are well known. They, and many others, can be found here
If you click where it has the name of the tune in red, you can listen to them too. I've posted the words of some of them - I especially like the first one - and by the way, welcome to Mudcat!
Jenny
Here We Come A-Wassailing - Chorus by Hilda Marshall
Tune: "Traditional Carol"
Here we come a wassailing Among the leaves so green Here we come a-wandering So fair to be seen
Chorus: Love and joy come to you Peace and hope and friendship too And we bless you and wish you a happy new year And we wish you a happy new year!
Chorus
We are not daily beggars who Beg from door to door But we are neighbors' children Whom you have seen before
Chorus
We have got a little purse Of stretching leather skin We want a little money To line it well within
Chorus
Call up the butler of this house Put on his golden ring Let him bring us a glass of beer And better we shall sing
Chorus
Bring us out a table and spread it with a cloth Bring us out a moldy cheese And some of your Yuletide loaf
Chorus
God bless the master of the house The mistress bless also And all the little children Around the table go
Chorus
Good master and good mistress While you sit by the fire Pray think of us poor children A-wand'ring in the mire
Lady Moon Shine Softly
Tune: "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Lady moon shines softly down To light the Earth below As we, her children, gather here Around the Yule fire's glow
We wait for morning's dawning First light of holy birth Our Lady turns the wheel of life Her Son returns to Earth
With joy we'll greet his dawning A new year has begun With increased light is bright new hope Reborn in Everyone.
Yule Fires - John G. MacKinnon
Tune: "Greensleeves"
In ancient days the folk of old When chilled with fright by winter's cold Did kindle up a great Yule fire With leaping flames in its great pyre;
So to entice the waning sun To rise again and wider run; It's fiery course across the sky, To warm them so they would not die.
So we, whose minds now sense a chill Of anger in the evil will, The human conflict, hate, and strife, Which hold a menace over life;
Would kindle up a flame of love That we within our hearts may move, In Yuletide joy, with love embrace And thus abide in peace and grace.
O Yuletide Tree
Tune: "O, Tannenbaum"
O Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide Tree How lovely are thy branches O Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide Tree How lovely are thy branches Bring joyful tidings of great cheer O Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide Tree To us you are so lovely.
O Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide Tree Evergreen and fragrant O Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide Tree Evergreen and fragrant We bring you in our home to be A sign of life's eternity O Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide Tree Forever green and lovely
O Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide Tree Thank you for your blessings O Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide Tree Thank you for your blessings with golden stars and twinkling light You cheer us on this holy night O Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide Tree Thou art most fair and lovely
Share the Light - Ellen Reed
Tune: "The First Noel"
On this Winter holiday, let us stop and recall That this season is holy to one and to all. Unto some a Son is born, unto us comes a Sun, And we know, if they don't that all paths are one.
Chorus: Share the light, share the light! Share the light, share the Light! All paths are one on this holy night!
Be it Chanukah or Yule, Christmas time or Solstice night, All celebrate the eternal light. Lighted tree or burning log, Or eight candle flames. All gods are one god, whatever their names.