To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=53494
14 messages

Lyr Req/Add: 'Twas on a Night like This

11 Nov 02 - 03:47 PM (#823551)
Subject: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a night like this'
From: GUEST,Nogs

I've seen this referenced in the Forum, but no lyrics available. It has been credited to various artists, but the version that I'm looking for uses the tune from a Sicilian Carole : the Carole of the Bagpipers.
The lyrics on a later verse go: So come with us tonight/and join us on our way/ for we do seek that star again/ to light a better day/ And though throughout the land/ men search the skies in vain/ yet turn their sites within their hearts/ they would find that star again


11 Nov 02 - 05:15 PM (#823653)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a night like this'
From: sharyn

I have a recording of this, but I seem to have lost the accompanying notes. However, since it is from a Folk Legacy recording, you could probably get them from Sandy Paton, who posts on Mudcat frequently. The album is called "'Twas on a Night Like This (A Christmas Legacy)"

Good Luck


11 Nov 02 - 06:37 PM (#823704)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a night like this'
From: SINSULL

Not:
"In a little Spanish town
Twas on a night like this.
Stars were peek-a-booing down
Twas on a night like this..."

Back to my corner. Sorry


12 Nov 02 - 05:33 PM (#824576)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a night like this'
From: GUEST,Nogs

I, unfortunately, don't have a CD player. Can anybody help with the words?


12 Nov 02 - 05:37 PM (#824579)
Subject: Lyr Add: 'TWAS ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

'Twas on a Night Like This

'Twas on a night like this
A beautiful babe was born
The shepherds gathered round
To guard him till the dawn.
Above them shone a star,
A star so wondrous white,
That never since, in all the years,
Have we seen one half so bright.
    CHORUS:
    Shining so truly, shining so brightly,
    Guiding their footsteps from afar,
    It led them through the night,
    A path to love and brotherhood,
    By following its light

Oh, come with us tonight
And join us on our way,
For we have found that star again,
To greet a better day.
Although throughout our land
Men search the skies in vain,
If turned their glance within their hearts,
They would find that star again.

Click to play


12 Nov 02 - 05:40 PM (#824583)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a night like this'
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

From the liner notes to the aforementioned Sandy and Caroline Paton eponymous recording:
"Pete Seeger adapted and added to the traditional words of this song for his wonderful album of Traditional Christmas Carols (Folkways 32311). It is based on an Italian song, "The Bagpiper's Carol" and pertains to an old tradition in Naples in which shepherds come down from the Calabrian mountains for a festive stay in that city during the Christmas celebration. The only translation we have seen gives one verse telling about the Star of Bethlehem, thus the song is also known as the Star Carol"


12 Nov 02 - 10:42 PM (#824819)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a night like this'
From: mg

it is a beautiful song on a CD that I used to have..I think it broke...anyway, the CD is just full of great songs. mg


13 Nov 02 - 01:01 PM (#825355)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a night like this'
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)

I'm so glad you brought it up, Nogs- it's been going through my head ever since and I plan to use it this year!


13 Nov 02 - 03:59 PM (#825509)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a night like this'
From: Nogs

Ah, many thanks folks.


20 Dec 04 - 04:30 PM (#1361787)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a night like this
From: wysiwyg

Yummmmmmmmmmy.............

~S~


22 Feb 05 - 08:31 AM (#1417373)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Night like This
From: MMario

FolkInfo has this in their database.

Bagpiper's Carol


22 Feb 05 - 09:24 AM (#1417419)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Twas on a Night like This
From: Malcolm Douglas

See also Origins: Carol of the Bagpipes


07 Mar 05 - 09:20 PM (#1429350)
Subject: RE: Req/ADD: 'Twas on a Night like This
From: Joe Offer

MMario forwarded a MIDI to me - links are up top and with the lyrics, above.
-Joe Offer-


22 Dec 07 - 04:50 PM (#2221071)
Subject: RE: Req/ADD: 'Twas on a Night like This
From: Joe Offer

I spent an hour this afternoon, stacking firewood and listening to the Folk-Legacy album titled 'Twas on a Night Like This. Then we built a big fire in the woodstove and the house finally got warm. Now I feel like Christmas. Take a listen to the MMIDI MMario posted - it's one of our best!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
-Joe Offer-