Australian Christmas Carols

Subject: RE: Christmas in Australia (ATTN: BILL EGAN)
From: GUEST,Cam
Date: 11 Jan 07 - 02:38 AM

Hi there

Couldn't help stumbilng accross your request for the Irish Drovers recording of 'Christmas in Australia'. I happen to be a good friend of members of the Drovers and I have that recording so if you want it drop me a line on [e-mail] and I'll send it through.

Thanks

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: JennieG
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 11:42 PM

Bob,

Your bookshelves sound like my sewing/music room - I know there are things in there, in a Very Safe Place - I just haven't found them yet!

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 08:37 PM

G'day JennieG,

That first collection is definitely the pick of the crop. Roughly half of the 15 Australian carols Wheeler & James published are reasonably well known ... and that includes every one from the first book!

I know that I do own a full set of the three piano arrangement Wheeler & James books - as well as a single book of all 15, arranged for (chord~?) organ - and a few copies of the little booklets of words (which we used for the Bush Music Club's "Carols By Slushlamp" carolling sessions, years ago). Unfortunately ... what I don't know is: "where in the 2 or 3 thousand books on double-height bookshelves (almost up to the 11-foot ceilings) ... or the sundry boxes of overflow ... did I carefully store them!

Regard(les)s,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 07:51 PM

bid above is of course just looking for suckers to put themselves on spam lists... a genuine person would have just read the thread.

The Fooleish Grinch...

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: JennieG
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 12:25 AM

The other day at our local Salvos shop, I was fortunate enough to find Set One of the Wheeler and James carols - couldn't believe my luck! Only $2.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,bid
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 12:06 AM

g'day everyone,
i was wondering if any of you could possibly either send me some lyrics to some aussie songs or the music itself? me email is [e-mail]
thanks

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Scrump
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 07:59 AM

Saw UK-based Aussie duo Mundy-Turner last night - they did a few seasonal Aussie songs (great fun!), and they have a CD "Bonzer Aussie Christmas". Here's the track listing:

1. Wayne Wants A Surfboard For Christmas
2. Angels We Have Heard On High
3. Aussie Jingle Bells
4. Deck The Sheds
5. Christmas Road
6. Gunumeleng
7. Aussie Twelve Days Of Christmas
8. Homefires
9. Peace Is All We Need
10. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Their version of the 12 days was different from the one posted above - there was lots of audience participation!
You can get the CD from them by mail order - details on their website here

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Muttley
Date: 14 Dec 06 - 07:32 AM

The only "Aussie Version" of Rudolph I've ever heard was the one we used to sing at carolling time or school concerts (or both) up in the bush where I grew up.

It went something like:

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer       (Reindeer)
Had a very shiny nose                (Like a light globe)
And if you ever saw it                (Saw it)
(You would even say it glows          (Like a light globe)
All of the other Reindeer             (Reindeer)
Used to laugh and call him names      (Like Pinocchio)
They never let poor Rudolph;          (Rudoplph)
Join in any Reindeer Games            (Like Monopoly)

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came top say                   (Ho, ho, ho)
Rudolph, with your nose so bright: Won't you guide my sleigh tonight

Then all the other Reindeer          (Reindeer)
Laughed and shouted out with glee    (Yipp - ee!)
Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer       (Reindeer)
You'll go down in his-tor-y          (Like Captain Cook)

All the bits in parentheses are "echoes" to the verse lines and are spoken (or called out en masse) with energy - not sung. Almost like each little 'addition' was a sudden inspiration or 'bright idea'

Muttley

Subject: Lyr Add: SIX WHITE BOOMERS
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 12 Dec 06 - 05:56 AM

could it be 'SIX WHITE BOOMERS'?

Rolf Harris songs

(Harrison - Brown) Ardmore & Beechwood Ltd / EMI (P) 1965
Arr. Johnnie Spence - Produced by George Martin

    Early on one Christmas Day, a Joey Kangaroo
    Was far from home and lost in a great big zoo
    Mummy, where's my mummy, they've taken her away
    We'll help you find your mummy son, hop on the sleigh

    [Verse:]
    Up beside the bag of toys, little Joey hopped
    But they had'nt gone far when Santa stopped
    Unharnessed all the reindeer and Joey wondered why
    Then he heard a far off booming in the sky

    [Chorus:]
    Six white boomers, snow white boomers
    Racing Santa Claus through the blazing sun
    Six white boomers, snow white boomers
    .. On his Australian run

    Pretty soon old Santa began to feel the heat
    Took his fur-lined boots off to cool his feet
    Into one popped Joey, feeling quite OK
    While those old man kangaroos kept pulling on the sleigh

    Joey said to Santa, Santa, what about the toys
    Aren't you giving some to these girls and boys
    They've all got their presents son, we were here last night
    This trip is an extra trip, Joey's special flight

    Soon the sleigh was flashing past, right over Marble Bar
    Slow down there, cried Santa, it can't be far
    Come up on my lap son, and have a look around
    There she is, that's mummy, bounding up and down

    Well that's the bestest Christmas treat that Joey ever had
    Curled up in mother's pouch all snug and glad
    The last they saw was Santa headed northward from the sun
    The only year the boomers worked a double run

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Kajikit
Date: 11 Dec 06 - 10:25 PM

I'm an Aussie and I didn't know there WAS an 'Aussie Rudolph'. I've never heard of it...

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Lexie
Date: 11 Dec 06 - 10:21 AM

Please find me the words to the Aussie version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer pleeeeeeaaaaassseeeeeeeeeee.   

I'd be forever so grateful.

XX
Merry Christmas

Lexie

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 09:08 PM

G'day again Kajikit,

Fine! I won't bother posting or PMing what is already available.

(Maybe that will leave me time to check the www before getting the timber species confused (see my previous post).

It isn't pernambuco (caesalpina echinata) that the jacaranda tree (dalbergia negra) is related to, but that other rare and threatened Brazilian music wood: Brazilian Redwood (dalbergia retusa). Oops!

Regard(les)s,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Kajikit
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 08:27 PM

I'm fine with them... I know most of them by heart. I was looking for Silver Stars and it's already posted to this thread. (I'm tossing up what carol to offer to solo for the church candlelight service...)

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 07:47 PM

G'day Kajikit,

I was going to comment, on the first link to the words of Christmas Where the Gum Trees Grow, that the tree is correctly spelled "jacaranda" ... and is really a South American import (if, however, very popular!) ... and I think it's related to the tree that produces the traditional 'pernambuco' timber used for violin bows.

Anyway, the new link to Leigh Newton's site does spell if correctly!

Do you need a PM of the lyrics of the Wheeler & James carols ... or have you tracked those down (here ... or on the web)?

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Kajikit
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 04:00 PM

After I typed in the last lot of lyrics I tried another google search ( the first was unsuccessful) and this time I hit paydirt. Most of the songs I listed above are actually by Leigh Newton from his album 'Christmas in the Scrub' (1983) And he has all the lyrics on his website - Leigh Newton Lyrics and he also has mp3s of some of them.
It looks like he still has his albums and songbooks for sale as well...

Subject: Lyr Add: BOOMERANG OF FLOWERS (Philip/Newton)
From: Kajikit
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 03:53 PM

BOOMERANG OF FLOWERS
Music: Leigh Newton Words: Mary Philip © Leigh Newton 1983

A child is lying cradled here
beneath the slender gum
God of might has left his home
and to Australia come.
Kookaburra laughs with glee
shy koala peeps
magpie carols blissfully
as little jesus sleeps

CHORUS
What shall we give our infant king?
a boomerang of flowers
and say come back and stay with us
and be forever ours
What shall we give our infant king?
a boomerang of flowers
and say come back and stay with us
and be forever ours

One day a cross will hold him fast
and lest we should forget
above him in the sapphire sky
a cross of stars has set
but there'll be no pain for today
but peace and joy and love
beneath the slender gums he sleeps
and magpies sing above

Chorus

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Kajikit
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 03:35 PM

Here's a link to Christmas Where the Gum Trees Grow... no need for me to type it out again when a quick google search turned up ten different renditions!
Christmas where the gum trees grow

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 10:09 PM

G'day Kajikit (and Rowan),

Don't bother typing up the Wheeler & James carol lyrics - they have probably all been posted to past threads on Australian Carols. (Plus, I have them all on my hard drive - so I can email them directly to you, if desired, rather than repeating what has already been done.

However, all the ones that are not 'Wheeler & James carols' would be appreciated by many reading this thread.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Rowan
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 09:15 PM

Welcome to Mudcat, Kajikit! If you typed them up I'm sure your efforts would be welcomed.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Kajikit
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 02:49 PM

I signed up... this site looks really cool! I adore folk music... anyway, if anyone wants me to type out any of the lyrics of the songs on the album, just sing out and I'll email them to you - I had a quick look on Google and it seems that the album is no longer available - shame, because it's quite good. I found it very refreshing to have a real AUSTRALIAN christmas CD that wasn't too twee :)

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Kajikit
Date: 06 Dec 06 - 02:31 PM

I grew up in Australia and we sang those Australian carols every year at school, so I grew up with them ingrained on my memory. The first time I ever saw the 'Three Drovers' and 'Out on the plains' I was six and learning to play recorder, and my teacher gave me a bunch of what you'd call 'carols of the world' to learn :) Thanks for helping to keep them alive!

BTW, some of these carols (and others) are performed on the CD 'The Australian Christmas Album' released in 1998 and I'm pretty sure still available. I bought it to get them... :) It has the following songs:
Christmas where the gum trees grow
The three Drovers
Six white boomers
Carol of the birds
Boomerang of flowers
Christmas in the scrub
Off we go the Bethlehem
Mary and Joseph's lullaby
The Five days of christmas
Merry christmas (sun gleams bright)
and then 5 'traditional' christmas songs to round out the album.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Muttley
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 07:28 PM

Dear Genie

It's gaLAH - emphasis on the second syllable.
A Galah is a native parrot - pink and grey in colour and quite 'chatty' in flocks (noisy would be closer)

We used to get flocks fly over the house up home in the country that were so big, they'd act like a cloud passing across the sun. And at days' end, they'd roost in the gum trees along the creek at the bottom of a paddock across the road and at certain times of the year there would be so many that the pink on breast and head made it appear that the trees were bleeding.

We got huge flocks of sulphur-crested Cockatoo's as well and when THEY congregated in the trees along the creek, you'd swear it had been snowing!

BTW - there are a few versions of the Aussie 12 Days of Christmas - I prefer the one that ends with "And an emu up a gum tree"

Probably because emu's can neither fly nor climb - so getting one up a gum tree would be interesting to say the least.

Muttley

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS TIME ALREADY
From: GUEST,Christmas Time Already
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 08:24 AM

I can't resist lowering the tone, although this is a very interesting and enduring thread, so if you're easily offended don't read on.

here is a cynical but funny Christmas song from aussie folk-rock band weddings parties Anything. I will then follow this post with a more sober contribution. The bits in parentheses are refrains to be sung by the audience. It is on their farewell live double CD ( name escapes me).

CHRISTMAS TIME ALREADY


Well I can't get a cab for money or threats
(It's christmas time already)
This is as bad as it f***ing gets
(It's jolly old Christmas time)
The pubs are shut and the shops are 2
(It's christmas time already)
It's pissing down rain and it's 32
(It's jolly old Christmas time)

A howling host of girls and boys
(It's christmas time already)
Survey the wreckage of the toys
(It's jolly old Christmas time)
I'm eating nuts and nectarines
(It's christmas time already)
With opposable action figurines
(It's jolly old Christmas time)

I'm shit-faced on sherry and passionfruit-flavoured wine
So let us be merry, it's very nearly jolly old Christmas time

I stagger from the kitchen to the comfy chair
(It's christmas time already)
Watching a show about a magical bear
(It's jolly old Christmas time)
I'm personally sick of this Christmas farce
(It's christmas time already)
Happiest time of the year my arse
(It's jolly old Christmas time
It's jolly old Christmas time
It's jolly old Christmas time)

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,GUEST - Tooki in New Zealand
Date: 28 Nov 06 - 12:45 AM

Hi Bob, I have been trying to find music or guitar chords to the Wheeler & James carols. We had an album when we were kids (still do, somewhere!) from which we learnt them and I would dearly love to sing them again and teach the next generation. I would much appreciate if you could email me a PDF or GIFF of the sheet music (we have Merry Merry Christmas) to proctor at xtra dot co dot nz. Many thanks

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,real australian
Date: 23 Nov 06 - 04:36 AM

My old school version of 6 white boomers

6 brown roo's
brown, feral roo's
jumping through the paddocks on a scorcthing moree day
6 brown roo's
brown feral roo's
on the moree run

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 16 Nov 06 - 04:03 AM

G'day JennyO,

I have sent off the A5 booklet ... as well as the individual 'music sheet' pages ... to your home email.

Enjoy!

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: JennyO
Date: 15 Nov 06 - 08:26 AM

G'day Bob,

I had a post all ready to send earlier today saying "yes please, I would like copies of the sheet music!" and had even previewed my post - when the 'cat went down and has only just come back. So yes please!!!

BTW, are you coming to Yarri at the Cornucopia this Sunday? Great show with good photo opportunities ;-)

Jenny

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 11:32 PM

G'day Val in NZ,

If you are a 'Catter (and just not finding where your 'cookie' went) PM me a suitable email and I can, at least, send you my simplified words / melody / chords pages. (Unless/until I find my set of the books) I don't have the piano arrangements ... Go and keep nagging the bookshops ... maybe we can nag the publishers into bring out a fresh edition!

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Val in NZ
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 09:19 PM

Hi, I would like to obtain copies of the melody and chords (or piano accompaniment) to "Carol of the Birds" and "Christmas Day" please. I learned these fifty years ago and love them. Thanks very much if someone can help.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 05:25 AM

G'day Gail,

You must have the words for exactly the same seven Wheeler & James carols that are in my booklet mentioned above! I know that I have the books, in several versions, but they are clearly packed away in some really smart location ... and I haven't found them.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 01:02 AM

I am looking for the lyrics of "Christmas Night", "Our Lady of December", "The Little Town where Christ was Born", "Noel Time", "The Christmas Tree", "The day that Christ was born on", "Country Carol", and "Golden Day". I have the lyrics for the other 7 songs from William James' 15 Australian Christmas Carols but I don't have these, I did have the song book, but it has been misplaced, I have the music and my family would love to have the words so that they can practice for Christmas, if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 12:13 AM

G'day JennyO,

That's Book 1 ... those 5 are definitely the most popular carols out of the full set of 15. Each of the three folios had, essentially, the same cover design (mutatis mutandis), but printed in differing colours.

If you should need the sheet music for any of these, I have my re-arrangements into keys in which folkies are more likely play (let alone sing!) - so I could email you copies. (Come to think of it, they are all in my booklet: Carols - Fair Dinkum and Feral, which I use when trying to promote some appropriate carol singing in our mid-summer Christmas. I added in a small selection of the snowy Christmas favourites - and one unusual carol collected from Sally Sloane. I could run off a copy for you, if you are interested.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: JennyO
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:43 PM

G'day Bob.

Mine was folio size, and had 5 Christmas carols: The Three Drovers, The Silver Stars are in the Sky, Christmas Day, Carol of The Birds and Christmas Bush for his Adorning. It had piano arrangements as I remember and I also remember the cover being white or cream with red and green colours on the front. If I have lost it, it's a shame, because I really like those songs.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:52 PM

G'day JennyO,

In theory, I have three sets ... the little, words-only, booklet - the three folio-sized books 1 to 3 with piano arrangements and a single volume set arranged for organ...

... now, if I could just remember where that really neat spot to store them was (among several thousand books) ... Fortunately, I had a music file of The Silver Stars Are In The Sky, which Wendy needed, as I reset it in a more congenial key for folkies (and modern voices ... we tend to sing a tone or two lower than when these were published!). If Wendy needs that and I have an email, I can send an image of the sheet.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: JennyO
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 09:02 AM

You know, I thought I had one of those books in my piano stool, but when I went to have a look, it wasn't there. I did use to have one. Now I have to think about where else it might be, and hope I haven't lost it.

When I was a kid I was in a few choirs and I remember singing those songs leading up to Christmas on many occasions. I remember the tunes very clearly, as if there was a tape in my head. They bring back fond memories of growing up with those hot summer Christmasses in Australia.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 07:40 AM

Wendy, if you don't want to post your email address here, join Mudcat & send Bob a PM (Personal Message)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SILVER STARS ARE IN THE SKY
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 07:14 AM

G'day again Wendy,

Here are the words:

THE SILVER STARS ARE IN THE SKY

Words John Wheeler                 Music William G James

The silver stars are in the sky,
The red-gold moon goes riding high,
O, sleep my little one sleep!
Once long ago, against her breast,
A mother rocked her child to rest,
Who was the Prince of Heav'n above,
The Lord of happiness and love.
        O, sleep, my little one sleep!

The boobook calls across the night,
The brown moths flutter in the light,
O, sleep, my little one sleep!
In Bethlehem long, long ago,
When roads and paddocks gleam'd with snow;
On this same night, that mother mild,
Lull'd into dreams her royal child.
        So, sleep, my little one, sleep!
                      Sleep ...

You say you remember the melody ... so perhaps the words are sufficient. If you need the 'dots', I can post an ABC version to this thread, which can be reconstituted to 'dots' on various sites, such as concertina.com.

I would need an email address to send you de facto 'sheet music'.

I can't help you with a distributor of the Wheeler & James books in Britain.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 04:57 PM

G'day again,

Bill Egan: Is that the "Irish Drovers" group I seem to remember from Sydney ... somewhat earlier than 1987 - included Irish fiddler Sean Gilroy ... ? I think I have one or two LPs of theirs ... somewhere ... but I don't remember this one.

GUEST,Wendy: That's one of the Wheeler & James set of Australian carols mentioned above. I can post the words (and an "ABC" notation of the tune, if helpful) when I get home. If you want an image of the "sheet music", I'll need an email address, since I can't post attachments to the Mudcat Café.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Wendy
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 03:55 AM

I have just joined a choir in Liverpool (England) and they want to sing some Australian Christmas carols. I have three but can anyone tell me the name of the one that had the lines "...The boobook calls across the night, the ???? is flying high. Oh sleep my little one, sleep." Remember the melody and these few words but could do with the rest. I am also searching for the Australian Carols by Wheeler and James in this country. No luck so far. If anyone has a copy I would be grateful.

Thanks

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 04:07 AM

probably cos John Denver who wrote the song was not an Australian!

I found the lyrics on a site that had nasty popups & set so many advertising cookies I won't make a clicky.

sandra

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 06 - 12:31 AM

Haven't seen John Denver's "Christmas Like A Lullaby" listed here yet

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA (Irish Drovers)
From: GUEST,Bill Egan
Date: 04 Nov 06 - 05:50 PM

Here are the words I wrote down from the version I heard by The Irish Drovers. It was played on Sydney radio stations in Dec. 1987.

CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA

There was no snow in the Outback,
When Baby Jesus was born that night.
Just a mother singing dreamtime,
Saw the shining star so bright.
Now the children in the cities,
Are hanging lights upon the trees,
When it's Christmas in Australia,
Bringing joy to you and me.

When it's Christmas in Australia,
The So'thren Cross shines bright,
From Darwin to Tasmania,
On a joyful Christmas night.

They'll be ringing bells in Adelaide,
And Perth will shine her lights,
Singing carols all through Queensland,
On that warm December night.
On Melbourne streets, at Sydney-town,
The jacaranda blossoms lie,
A purple mantle across Australia,
Beneath our so'thren sky.

When it's Christmas in Australia,
The So'thren Cross shines bright,
From Darwin to Tasmania,
On a joyful Christmas night.

The farmer and the cityfolk,
All bow their heads and pray,
To Little Baby Jesus,
Born long ago and far away.
Just an infant in a manger,
Who'll fill the world with love and joy,
When it's Christmas in Australia,
Peace to every girl and boy.

When it's Christmas in Australia,
The So'thren Cross shines bright,
From Darwin to Tasmania,
On a joyful Christmas night.

Ringing bells across Australia
On a joyful Christmas night.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,sue-from twickenham
Date: 02 Nov 06 - 04:31 PM

I am looking for the lyrics & music to a carol I learnt when i was at school in the 60's. we are hold a carol concert at our school of carols from around the world & i thought it would be good to include this. I remember some of the words, The crow is in the field & pasture, in woods ?????. The robin with his feathered ??? goes hopping everywhere.
Can anyone help!
many thanks

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: Scrump
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 08:12 AM

Don't know if it helps, but "Christmas in Australia" (the original version by Roaring Jelly) is available on a compilation CD "Nowt So Funny As Folk" which is still available AFAIK.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: John O'L
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 07:38 AM

Christmas in Australia

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,Bill Egan
Date: 30 Oct 06 - 02:07 AM

When I was in Australia in December 1987 aboard USS Missouri, I heard a wonderful song called "Christmas in Australia" by The Irish Drovers. For nearly 20 years I've been looking for that recording. When I ask for it the usual reply is, "You mean The Irish Rovers." No, it's The Irish Drovers.

Our ship's choir toured schools and hospitals and we sang a Wheeler & James carol called "Christmas Night." We nicknamed it The Boobook Song because one of the lines goes, "All the boobooks were silent in willow tree glade, And the night herons listens in star-spangled shade."

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS DAY (Wheeler/James)
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 27 Nov 05 - 04:54 AM

G'day GUEST,[e-mail] / Jackie,

These are the words you request:

CHRISTMAS DAY

Words John Wheeler                 Music William G James

The north wind is tossing the leaves.
The red dust is over the town;
The sparrows are under the eaves,
And the grass in the paddock is brown;
As we lift up our voices and sing,
To the Christ-child the heavenly King.

The tree ferns in green gullies sway;
The cool stream flows silently by;
The joy bells are greeting the day,
And the chimes are adrift in the sky,
As we lift up our voices and sing,
To the Christ-child the heavenly King.

Regards (& have a Merry Christmas),

Bob

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From:
Date: 27 Nov 05 - 02:21 AM

Does anyone have the words to the song 'Christmas Day' by Wheeler & James. I can only remember the first verse which began, 'The north wind is tossing the leaves' and I would really like to be able to sing the rest of the song. It would be much appreciated it if you could email the words to me. Thankyou. Jackie.

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: GUEST,bill
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 11:45 AM

unfortunately, John, there are people in our catholic community who object to certain standard English words, due to contemporary colloquial usage.

Bill

Subject: RE: Australian Christmas Carols
From: JohnB
Date: 11 Oct 05 - 10:29 AM

So Guest Bill, what is the actual problem with the words as written?
JohnB