Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Clontarf83
Date: 16 Sep 11 - 01:46 AM

My favourite (sorta) non-religious Christmas song is by Steve Earle--it's the last track on his "Copperhead Road" album, and it is an ingenious rewrite of the Christmas story--"Nothing but a child"

My other (less tasteful) favourite is "walking round in women's underwear" --a parody of "walking in a winter wonderland" I think it is listed in the mudcat song library.

I'm a practicing Christian by the way, and I love the whole Christmas thing.

Subject: RE: Correction: Boreson
From: Haruo
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 03:01 AM

It's Stan Boreson, Genie, not Berenson. My Aunt Annie went to high school with him. And he's quite popular in Fremont and Kirkland, as well. Each Christmas my extended family dances around the (rather skinny) Christmas tree to a tape of Stan's seasonal songs. On this page of my online photos, if you scroll down a bit, you can see a couple pictures of us going at it on Xmas Eve 2001. We did it again this year but I didn't have any film.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Ebbie
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 04:51 PM

Seamus Kennedy has a CD 'Goodwill to Men' that I love, even though I have not really liked Christmas carols, as such, for a long time. There are some great songs on there. The title cut, which he wrote, is one of my favorites. Think of Somebody Out There is another. Even those he didn't write are fresh, and most of them are unfamiliar to me.

Subject: Christmas in the Trenches "Amergin"
From:
Date: 17 Jan 03 - 01:39 PM

To "Amergin." I know this jewel of a song and it's hard to sing because it is so poignant that I get choked up. I play it in D and have most of the chord patterns and runs, but there are a couple of places where I fake it. Does anyone have the tablature?

Don Andrews [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Genie
Date: 03 Dec 01 - 10:11 AM

How about I Yoost Go Nuts at Christmas by Stan (Berenson??)-- It's all the rage in Ballard, WA!

Also, Colorado Christmas by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

The Man With The Bag sung by Kay Starr

Genie

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Jimmy C
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 01:13 PM

Blackcatter, Merry Christmas and a very happy New year to you.

I agree with you in so far that there are a lot of hypocrites out there, as well as people who do things to shock their family and to look rebellious just to get some attention. Reminds me of a friend of mine who left home because he did not like his parents rules. He moved into a boarding house where there was no music after 10.00pm, no drinking or smoking allowed and he had to be in by midnight or the landlady would lock the door, He seemed ok with that ?. Go figure.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: fox4zero
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 01:58 AM

About the Christmas truce (Christmas in the Trenches): Approximately 15 years or more ago, there was a Christmas program on US Public Television call SIMPLE GIFTS. They actually ran it for 3 or more seasons. There were about a half-dozen sketches including a piece by Moss Hart, Teddy Roosevelt's christmas gifts, birth of Christ in the Manger, and The Christmas Truce as related in a non-fiction letter from a specificly named young officer (US or Brit)who was killed a few month later. The entire show was very moving and was illustrated by still photographs and drawings....Trenches was very effective. In addition, SLEIGH RIDE, naturally, is my favorite seasonal song. I have been away from Mudcat for many months, but I notice that the number of "anal orifices" has increased markedly. Their boorish comments are non sequitors and irrelevant. Seasonal Greetings to all, or almost all. Larry

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: GUEST, Blackcatter
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 12:33 AM

Greetings Jimmy C

You're right - I just sincerely wish that more Christians actually did do that. But of course Christians practice their religion probably at the same level as most other religions as well. I know I really dislike the Pagans who are Pagan because it is cool and bothers their relatives.

Pax and Merry Christmas All. Jesus was someone from whom everyone could learn a lesson.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Jimmy C
Date: 16 Dec 00 - 12:06 AM

Blackcatter, WE don't only get to celebrate his birth once a year, We celebrate his birth, life and death every single day.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: GUEST, Blackcatter
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 11:40 PM

Greetings all

My fav: listed above is Mr. Grinch - I love watching the kiddies faces light up when I do a solo of that during our Folk Ensemble visits to stores and hospitals and such - The sheer fact that an adult in public is singing that is frequently astounding to them.

On the obscure song - I love "St. Stephen's Day Murders" from the Chieftains on their more or less Xmas album - sung by Elvis Costello. If you haven't heard it, get the lyrics - I think their here - and follow along with the "Living Elvis".

Also - Some of us Pagans feel sorry for the Christians this time of year - they only get to celebrate a past event (the birth of the SON GOD), yet on Yule, we get to celebrate a happening event every time (the re-birth of the SUN GOD). I encourage any one who would like to help to stay up on the 21st (Yule) and help the sun come up in the morning. Where I work, I'm lucky enough to be able to take the 22nd as a religious holiday.

Pax yall,

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Jimmy C
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 07:42 PM

Sorry, That should be " RELEASE MY WEE LAD"

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Jimmy C
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 12:57 PM

I like many non-religious christmas songs but prefer the religous ones. Are there any non-jewish Hannukah songs ?.
White Christmas is my least favourite, here in Canada we don't have to dream about a white Christmas, we have to worry about a white December, January, February etc. Jingle Bell Rock has a nice beat to it.

"Feliz Navidad" I like and it is very popular at the moment, Especially the Irish version " Resease my wee lad ".

Merry Christmas everyone.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 05:24 AM

Please ignore all postings by Stephen Jardine! He's just rying to get me thrown off Mudcat and the college computers.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: GUEST,stephenjardine
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 05:19 AM

Please throw Firecat off Mudcat making that shit up about me cheers love

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 05:17 AM

HE LIED!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: GUEST,GUESTstephenjardine
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 05:16 AM

Katy Ingram a k a Firecat is lieing I am just a little boy who is deprived of sexual intercourse. She said if she put my name in she would make it so i would only sleep with one lady and that is her - she doesn't know i am writing this. Ignore her Please or I will make you all sexually deprived. HA HA HA HA.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 05:16 AM

Don't believe me. I just made up that name!!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 05:14 AM

Oh, boy! I'm dead!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 05:12 AM

BTW that lad's name is Stephen Jardine!!!!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 05:09 AM

HE AGREES!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 05:07 AM

I'm actually sitting next to a boy from my Theatre Studies group that is DEFINATELY the Grinch, the description is spot on!!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: JedMarum
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 07:23 PM

Well it looks like I'm the only one crusty enough to say this, but all those non-religious Christmas songs really hack me off! I am beginning to hate them! (I say this half in jest). We get bombarded over here in the US with schlockey pseudo Christmas muzak - aimed at setting our subconsciouses to buying christams gifts. We can't mention religion, even on a religious holiday, anywhere - so we sing around and about christmas. We pretend that christmas is Santa's birthday, and we talk about peace on earth - and don;t dare breathe a word about Jesus, lest someone get insulted. I've been asked to play a few Christmas shows, at pubs and private places this year - and I enjoyed singing Silent Night, Joy to the World, Away in a Manger, etc.

We are doing our best in America to eliminate Christianity, and that angers me. Swapping the new Santa myth for the old, is part of that conspiracy.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: mousethief
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 06:08 PM

Of course Christianity hijacked the solstice back when Britain was still being invaded annually by those vicious Angles and Saxons, and the French were still speaking Latin and the Germans were still worshipping Odin. So I'm rather doubtful about your pre-Christian Wassail songs.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: GUEST,Guest - theSkeptic
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 05:49 PM

Hey folks, Wassail songs are in essence pre-Christian. Me, I'm perfectly willing to sing any *old* Christmas song, preferably in Latin. Remember that Christianity hijacked the solstice festival. Being a federal employee, I hold that Christmas must be a secular holiday, otherwise we'd not get the day off. Don't forget that Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, on excellent doctrinal grounds, abolished the celebration of Christmas. This so offended the British that they sent for the profligate and licentious Charles II to restore monarchy, Christmas, and irreligion.

No, I don't much care for the modern commercial stuff, even "White Christmas". The worship of Mammon is no more palatable to me than Christianity, and as for the worship of the Flag -- Uggh.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: richlmo
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 11:35 PM

I wouldn't really call it a favorite, but does anyone remember a song called "Little Sandy Sleighfoot"? I think Eddy Arnold wrote it or sang it. Just remember it from my childhood.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: GUEST,jb
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 11:17 PM

I like "There's a Santa who looks a lot like Elvis."

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING (JP White)^^
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 08:11 PM

For a few years now I've learned a new song that seems to befit the occasion each Christmas. Recent ones I've should all be in the DT:

Christmas in the Trenches (my favourite)

Standing in the Rain (Sidney Carter song which attacks Christmas hypocrisy)

The Day That Santa Died (First saw it inj the Forum a couple of years ago - cute ditty to the tune of American Pie)

Fairytale of New York (Christy Moore's is the version I love)

And this year I'll sing 'Christmas Day in the Morning'. It was mentioned above what a great Shetland tune it is. I posted these lyrics a couple of months ago.

Anti slavery song peppered with sentiments of Christian revenge.

CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING

Lyrics - John Pagen White
Tune - Christmas Day In The Morning

The Betsey Jane sailed out of the Firth,
As the Waits sang, "Christ is born on earth"
The Betsey Jane sailed out of the Firth
On Christmas day in the morning
The wind was East, the moon was high,
Of a frosty blue was the spangled sky,
And the bells were ringing, and dawn was nigh,
And the day was Christmas morning.

In village and town woke up from sleep,
From peaceful visions and slumbers deep-
In village and town woke up from sleep,
On Christmas day in the morning,
The many that thought on Christ the King,
And rose betimes their gifts to bring,
And "peace on earth and good will" to sing,
As is meet upon Christmas morning.

The Betsey Jane pass'd village and town,
As the Gleemen sang, and the stars went down—
The Betsey-Jane pass'd village and town,
That Christmas-day in the morning;
And the Skipper by good and by evil swore,
The bells might ring and the Gleemen roar,
But the chink of his gold would chime him o'er
Those waves, next Christmas morning.

And out of the Firth with his reckless crew,
All ready his will and his work to do—
Out of the Firth with his reckless crew
He sailed on a Christmas morning!
He steer'd his way to Gambia's coast;
And dealt for slaves; and Westward cross'd;
And sold their lives, and made his boast
As he thought upon Christmas morning.

And again and again from shore to shore,
With his human freight for the golden ore—
Again and again from shore to shore,
Ere Christmas-day in the morning,
He cross'd that deep with never a thought
Of the sorrow, or wrong, or suffering wrought
On souls and bodies thus sold and bought
For gold, against Christmas morning!

And at length, with his gold and ivory rare,
When the sun was low and the breeze was fair—
At length with his gold and ivory rare
He sailed, that on Christmas morning
He might pass both village and town again
When the bells were ringing, as they rung then,
When he pass'd them by in the Betsey-Jane,
On that last bright Christmas morning.

The Betsey-Jane sailed into the firth,
As the bells rang "Christ is born on earth"—
The Betsey-Jane sailed into the Firth,
And it was upon Christmas morning!
The wind was west, the moon was high,
Of a hazy blue was the spangled sky,
And the bells were ringing, and dawn was nigh,
Just breaking on Christmas morning.

The Gleemen singing of Christ the King,
Of Christ the King, of Christ the King—
The Gleemen singing of Christ the King,
Hailed Christmas-day in the morning;
When the Betsey-Jane with a thundering shock
Went ripping along on the Giltstone Rock,
In sound of the bells which seemed to mock
Her doom on that Christmas morning.

With curse and shriek and fearful groan,
On the foundering ship, in the waters lone—
With curse and shriek and fearful groan,
They sank on that Christmas morning!
The Skipper with arms around his gold,
Scared by dark spirits that loosed his hold,
Was down the deep sea plunged and roli'd
In the dawn of that Christmas morning:—

While village and town woke up from sleep,
From peaceful visions and slumbers deep—
While village and town woke up from sleep,
That Christmas-day in the morning!
And many that thought on Christ the King,
Rose up betimes their gifts to bring,
And, "peace on earth and good will to sing,"
Went forth in the Christmas morning!

Theme: The author, a West Cumbrian and, according to a biographical note, 'a true Christian', was a youth when slavery was finally abolished in the British Empire. His hatred of the slave trade comes out in the song wherein the slavers 'get their just des

Tune: Traditional Carol.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Penny S.
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 05:12 PM

Figgy Duff, by Flanders and Swann

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS TIME (Larry Norman)
From: mousethief
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 03:09 PM

Nobody mentioned this little gem....

CHRISTMAS TIME
Larry Norman

Santa Claus is comin' and the kids are gettin' greedy
(Ow! all right!) It's Christmastime.
And they know it's in the stores because they seen it on the TV
(I said) It's Christmastime.

(similar ad-lib exclamations on the repeat lines - "all right," "I said," "yeow," "uh-huh" and so forth)

Well, you go into the forest and you cut down all the trees
It's Christmastime.
I know you got a power saw, but who plants the seeds?
It's Christmastime.

It used to be the birthday of a man who saved our necks
It's Christmastime.
But now it stands for Santa Claus, and spell it with an "X"
It's Christmastime.

Whoa whoa whoa it's Christmas time
Whoa whoa baby
Whoa whoa whoa it's Christmas time
Whoa whoa baby
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

Now I gotta buy a present, can't remember who it's for
It's Christmastime.
But I'll see you in an hour when I get back from the store
It's Christmastime.

Whoa whoa whoa it's Christmas time
Whoa whoa baby
Whoa whoa whoa it's Christmas time
Whoa whoa baby
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

---------

Alex

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: SDShad
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 12:41 PM

Mrs. Duck--which bit was he saying didn't happen? Informal, impromptu Christmas truces like the song describes did happen in 1914, along both the Eastern and Western fronts. Photographs and numerous first-hand oral accounts exist. The football match is unproven, but shows up in many accounts, though the accounts apparently don't agree as to the winner. So I guess you can call that part "legend," but I don't think anyone can say with any degree of certainty that it just didn't happen.

Unfortunately, if people are claiming that no Christmas truce happened, the boys who lived through it are no longer alive to refute them.....

Chris

[p.s., if there's a Joe Clone to clean up my lyrics' lack of line breaks in the post above, I'd greatly appreciate it. Haven't posted lyrics in a while....]

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Peg
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 12:05 PM

I like that Paul McCartney one, too! and I was just singing that Eartha Kitt song in my head before I read this thread!

I must admit, I like "It's Christmas!" from the musical "Annie" ("It's good-bye to diets and what's the excuse, IT'S CHRISTMAS!")

and no one has mentioned that old chestnut (I am not sure of the title):

"Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat; please to put a penny in the old man's hat. If you've no penny, a ha'penny will do. If you've no ha'penny then God bless you."

I used to love singing that one in grade school...

happy holly daze!

peg

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Matt_R
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 11:38 AM

As resident African-American Rayford said on the Jon Boy & Billy Show "So at our house, we're celebrating Kwanzaa this year..we're gonna watch TV, eat a lot of food, then go out to the trunk of my car and light some emergency flares!"

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Mrrzy
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 11:29 AM

My kids (USA public school - kindergarten) have learned about what Hanuukah celebrates, what Kwanzaa celebrates - and for Christmas all they are told about is how other cultures might celebrate it, but NOT what it's about! I think it's because if they did teach the Christian mythos alongside all the others, it might be allowing the children to think that Christianity might be a possibility instead of a defacto default state, and we couldn't have that, no, no!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 10:42 AM

Ebbie, my point is even though we DO have a so-called state religion we give the cultural diversity of our population full airing too.
Bill Sables did the Christmas in the Trenches at the Jug last week it was lovely until some spoil sport had to point out that it didn;t really happen. Never stopped me singing Christmas carols!!!!

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS FOR COWBOYS^^
From: SDShad
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 09:45 AM

Thanks, Amergin, for mentioning "Christmas in the Trenches," and posting the lyrics. I think that's probably my favorite Christmas song, religious or no.

John McCutcheon tells the story of doing a number of shows in Denmark, where he began to notice the same group of old Germans who had come to the shows from across the border, filing in late and standing near the stage (since no seating remained usually) to hear "Christmas in the Trenches," then walking back out. Finally his curiousity got the best of him, and he got down from the stage and grabbed them before they left. They explained that they had come because of "that song--you know, the one on the radio." Their families and friends had told them for years that they were crazy--they must have gotten too drunk, and imagined it. They had all been in the trenches of Flanders on December 25, 1914, you see....

So, "Trenches" already posted, my contribution is John Denver's "Christmas for Cowboys," written by Eric Weissberg, I believe, which our loose little oldtimey-bluegrassy-gospelly group the "Gospel Buckaroos" sang recently:

Tall in the saddle, we spend Christmas day
Driving the cattle on the 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 egg nog and Christmas parades
I'll take the blanket, I'll take the reins
Christmas for cowboys on the wide open plains

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

It's tall in the saddle, we spend Christmas day
Driving the cattle on the snow-covered plains
So many gifts have been opened today
Ours is the sky and the wide open range

It's Christmas for cowboys on the wide open plains

HTML line breaks added. -JoeClone 28-Mar-01.

Subject: Lyr Add: YOU'RE A MEAN ONE, MR. GRINCH^^
From: Amergin
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 09:34 AM

Hey, Firecat, here it is....

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch.
You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus,
You're as charming as an eel.
Mr. Grinch.

You're a bad banana
With a greasy black peel.

You're a monster, Mr. Grinch.
Your heart's an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders,
You've got garlic in your soul.
Mr. Grinch.

I wouldn't touch you, with a
thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole.

You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch.
You have termites in your smile.
You have all the tender sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile.
Mr. Grinch.

Given the choice between the two of you
I'd take the seasick crockodile.

You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch.
You're a nasty, wasty skunk.
Your heart is full of unwashed socks
Your soul is full of gunk.
Mr. Grinch.

The three words that best describe you,
are, and I quote: "Stink. Stank. Stunk."

You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch.
You're the king of sinful sots.
Your heart's a dead tomato splot
With moldy purple spots,
Mr. Grinch.

Your soul is an apalling dump heap overflowing
with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable
rubbish imaginable,
Mangled up in tangled up knots.

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch.
With a nauseaus super-naus.
You're a crooked jerky jockey
And you drive a crooked horse.
Mr. Grinch.

You're a three decker saurkraut and toadstool sandwich
With arsenic sauce.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Joy Bennett
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 09:16 AM

and, let's not forget the 12 days AFTER christmas

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Joy Bennett
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 09:04 AM

How 'bout "Something's stuck up in the Chimney" -- would love to get hold of some Kwanza songs -- any leads?

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 06:18 AM

I've not seen "The Grinch" so I don't know the Grinch song, Am. What's it go like????

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Alice
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 01:04 AM

I have a Christmas recording by Chet Atkins with a "Jingle Bell Rock" that I like best of all recordings of that song that I have heard. There is another on the tape that I really enjoy called "East Tennessee Christmas". "Winter Wonderland" and "Let It Snow" are two more.

Alice

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: richlmo
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 11:02 PM

Not really a favorite, but who remembers "Little Sandy Sleighfoot"? I think Eddy Arnold wrote it.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: mousethief
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 06:30 PM

That's really cool, Am. Thanks for posting it!

Alex

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES^^^
From: Amergin
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 06:26 PM

Here you go, Alex.

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES
(John McCutcheon)

My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, ``Now listen up, me boys!'' each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
``He's singing bloody well, you know!'' my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
``God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen'' struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was ``Stille Nacht.'' ``Tis `Silent Night','' says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
``There's someone coming toward us!'' the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night

Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men

Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
``Whose family have I fixed within my sights?''
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore

My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same

Personally, I think this is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard....

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: mousethief
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 06:18 PM

"Christmas in the Trenches"? I don't think I've ever heard of it, Am. How's it go?

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Amergin
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 05:02 PM

I'm kind of surprised that no one has mentioned Christmas in the Trenches or the Grinch song....

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: mousethief
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 01:12 PM

Here in Washington State we do it stupidly; rather than sing a diverse selection of things from many cultures, our kids sing only secular songs and spoofs of Christmas songs that thin-skinned Christians (I'm naming no names) would find offensive. But of course it's okay to offend Christians, just not the Moslems and Jews and Pagans and Baha'is and Atheists.

Not bitter or anything,
Alex

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 01:09 PM

"Happy Holidays", Mrs. Duck. And "Winter Concert". And "Winter Break", etc. And Easter break has become Spring Break.

Of course, those are only the official names. In reality, people still say, Merry Christmas! Christmas Concert and Christmas break.

Our local Alaska Youth Choir performs songs from many cultures and languages. When I listen to them it is then that I actually understand the prohibition against a single point of view. We are a diverse people and we don't have a state religion.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 01:02 PM

Thanks!!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: GUEST,rabbitrunning
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 11:53 AM

Kwanzaa is an invented holiday, loosely based on African harvest festivals, that was created to give African American families a way to express pride and unity. It lasts from Christmas to New Years, and each day one of seven principles is celebrated. There is also a candelabrum with seven candles, called a kinara. There are gifts (which are supposed to be hand made) and a feast, and lots of discussion and storytelling.

The seven principles are:
Umoja (unity)
Kujichagulia (Self-determination)
Ujima (Collective work and responsibility)
Ujaaama (Cooperative economics)
Nia (Purpose)
Kuumba (Creativity)
and Imani (faith)

It was first celebrated/developed in 1966.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 09:48 AM

Animaterra, what's Kwaanza???