UNTIL THE DARK TIME ENDS (Seasonal CD)
1 - Jed Marum - Banjos We Have Heard On High
2 - John P - Personet Hodie
3 - nutty - The New Year Song
4 - Lonesome EJ - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
5 - Animaterra - The Comfort Of Singing Voices
6 - Good Soldier Schweik - Cornish Wassail
7 - Barbara Shaw - December Waltz
8 - Seamus Kennedy - Miss Fogarty's Xmas Cake/The Cook In The Kitchen
9 - bradfordian/My guru always said - The Holly Bears A Berry
10 - Fidjit - Christmas Tree Lament
11 - Anne Lister - Dance With The Dragon
12 - henryclem - Sing A Song Of Christmas
13 - Suffet - The Turning Of The Year
14 - Suibhne O'Piobaireachd - Gower Wassail
15 - Mary Humphreys & treewind - Sweet Chiming Bells
16 - skarpi - Á Sprengisandi
17 - Cool Beans - Jingle Bells
18 - ClaireBear - Sweet Perfection (Joseph's Carol)
19 - Leadfingers - When Father Was Pantomime Dame
20 - JohnB - Nowell And Nowell
21 - Dan Schatz - Cold Winter Is Coming
22 - Genie - Raise Your Voices In The Song
23 - Amos - Rebel Jesus
24 - maeve - Ice Storm
Many thanks to michaelr for his work in compiling this information.
All lyrics are the property of their authors. Used by permission. Unauthorized usage is prohibited.
Lyrics for UNTIL THE DARK TIME ENDS
1. Banjos We Have Heard On High - Jed Marum
Written by Jed Marum © 2008
Jed Marum: Lead and harmony vocals, banjos, guitar
Paul Mills: Harmony vocals, mandolin, bass
Produced and engineered by Paul Mills at The Millstream, Toronto ONT Canada
www.jedmarum.com
I heard a band of angels sing
Banjos we have heard on high
Banjos heard on high
“And on this day a new born king!”
Banjos we have heard on high
Banjos heard on high
(Chorus) Holy night, silent night
Lord of Lords and Light of Light
Angels sing, banjos ring
Praise the new born king!
Son of God and son of man
Banjos we have heard on high
Banjos heard on high
In Bethlehem a bright and shining star
Banjos we have heard on high
Banjos heard on high
Bearing gifts came three kings from afar
Banjos we have heard on high
Banjos heard on high (Chorus)
2. Personet Hodie - John P
The band name is Telynor. Musicians are John Peekstok (John P): cittern, organ, tar, zils, and Anna Clemenger: voice, fiddle, recorder.
From "Piae Cantiones", compiled by Theoderius Petrus in 1582.
Personet hodie, voces puerulae
Laudantes jocunde, qui nobis est natus
Summo Deo datus
Et de vir-, vir-, vir-
Et de vir-, vir-, vir-
Et de virgineo ventre procreatus
In mundo nascitur, pannis involvitor
Praesepi ponitur, stabulo brutorum
Rector supernorum
Perdidit, -dit,-dit
Perdidit, -dit,-dit
Perdidit spolia princeps infernorum
Magitres venerunt, parvulum inquirunt
Parvulum inquirunt, stellulam sequendo
Ipsum adorando
Aurum thus, thus, thus
Aurum thus, thus, thus
Aurum thus et myrrham ei offerendo
Omnes clericuli, pariter pueri
Cantent ut angeli, advenisti mundo
Laudes tibi fundo
Ideo, -o, -o
Ideo, -o, -o
Ideo gloria in excelsis deo
3. The New Year Song - nutty
Written by Hazel Bolton ©
Hazel Bolton (nutty): Voice
THE OLD YEAR NOW IS AT AN END
OLD FATHER TIME GROWS OLDER STILL
SO JOIN TOGETHER WITH GOOD FRIENDS
AND WATCH THE SUN SET OVER THE HILL
(Chorus) FOR NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW LIFE, NEW HOPE
NEW FRIENDS, A NEW BEGINNING
SO LOUDLY SING THE NEW YEAR IN
AND SET THE BELLS A-RINGING
THE PASSING YEAR HAS BROUGHT US DAYS
WITH BLESSING RICH AND SADNESS SORE
AND SO WE LOOK TO FUTURE WAYS
AND PRAY THAT HARD TIMES COME NO MORE
WE MEET TO SING THE NEW YEAR IN
WITH HOPE THAT WE WILL ALL BE HERE
TO MEET AND GREET OLD FRIENDS AGAIN
TO TOAST THE HEALTH OF NEXT NEW YEAR
SO FILL YOUR GLASSES, RAISE A TOAST
SEND GOOD WISHES LOUD AND CLEAR
TO THOSE IN LIFE YOU LOVE THE MOST
AND TO ALL THOSE NO LONGER HERE
4. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - Lonesome EJ
Ernie Johnson (Lonesome EJ): Guitar and voice
God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
5. The Comfort of Singing Voices - Animaterra Women's Chorus
Composed by Alouette Iselin ©
Animaterra Women's Chorus, artistic director Allison Aldrich (AllisonA(Animaterra)): Voices
Solo: Alouette Iselin
Now is the dark time and the cold time too
Gather round, circle of friends,
The comfort of singing voices will see us through
Until the dark time ends.
(Refrain) Until the dark time ends,
until the dark time ends.
We need the comfort of singing voices,
Until the dark time ends.
We give each other company
Gather round, circle of friends,
Singing in sweet harmony (Refrain)
In a cage of bone we keep our wings
Gather round, circle of friends,
If we would fly, then we all must sing. (Refrain)
6. Cornish Wassail (Trad.) - Dick Miles
Dick Miles (Good Soldier Schweik): Voice
O Mistress, at your door our wassail begins
Pray open the door and let us come in.
(Chorus) With our wassail, wassail,
Wassail, wassail,
And joy be to our jolly wassail.
O Master and Mistress, sitting down by the fire
While we poor wassail boys do trudge through the mire.
O Master and Mistress, sitting down at your ease
Put your hands in your pockets and give what you please.
We wish you a merry Christmas and a long time to live
Because you’ve been free and so willing to give.
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year
With plenty of money and a barrel of beer.
7. December Waltz - ShoreGrass
Written by Barbara Shaw © 1999
This song is from the ShoreGrass self-produced album Going Home, which was recorded at American Melody Studio in Guilford, CT
and released in 2007. Musicians on this song include:
Frank Shaw - Banjo, lead vocals, Barbara Shaw - Guitar, tenor vocals,
Paul Pozzi - Mandolin, Stacy Phillips - Fiddle, Jonathan Shaw - Bass
Inspired by the nostalgia and melancholy mixed with the joy of the season, there is a presence during December of those loved ones long gone, a time when memories come true.
Every December I see them again
The old ones, the little ones, in scenes that never end
The old rooms fill with firelight and lend
A magic to the old December waltz.
(Chorus)
Turning and following, dancing into view
Old songs, old stories in the air
In these old winter melodies, memories come true
Dancing to the old December waltz.
Together again in the sweetest of times
A smile, a melody, happy that I’m
Again in the moment, again in our prime
Dancing to the old December waltz.
8. Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake/The Cook In The Kitchen - Seamus Kennedy
Written by C. Frank Horn, c. 188?/trad.
Seamus Kennedy - Guitar, Tenor Banjo, Bones and Vocals; Brad Hayford - Bass and Whistle;
Stevie Morris - Fiddle; Fergus Kennedy - Accordion.
www.seamus-kennedy.com
Disclaimer here - when I recorded the song in 1995, I had no access to the vast resources of the Internet (or a computer),
so I relied on the liner notes from several albums as well as word of mouth from fellow musicians that it was “Trad”.
So that’s what I put in my liner notes for the album - Trad. Fortunately the song is now Public Domain, but I regret the error.As I sat in my window last evening,
The letterman brought it to me
A little gilt-edged invitation
Sayin’”Seamus come over to tea”
Well I knew that the Fogarties sent it
And I went just for old friendships sake.
The first thing they gave me to tackle
Was a slice of Miss Fogarty’s cake.
(Chorus) Now there were plums and prunes and cherries,
There were citrons and raisins and cinnamon, too
There was nutmeg, cloves and berries
And a crust that was nailed on with glue
There were caraway seeds in abundance
Such that work up a fine stomach ache
That could kill a man twice after eating a slice
Of Miss Fogarty’s Christmas cake.
Miss Mulligan wanted to taste it,
But really it wasn’t no use
They worked on it over an hour
And they couldn’t get none of it loose
So Kelly came in with a hatchet
And Murphy came in with a saw
That cake was enough by the powers
For to paralyze any man’s jaws
Miss Fogarty proud as a peacock,
Kept smiling and baking away
Till she tripped over Flanagans brogans
And she spilt the whole brew of her tay
Aye Seamus she cried you’re not eatin’,
Try a little bit more for me sake
“No thanks, Miss Fogarty” says I,
“I’ve had quite enough of your cake”
O’Carroll was took with the colic,
McNulty complained of his head
McCrudden lay down on the sofa,
And he swore that he wished he was dead
Miss Daley went into hysterics
And there she did wriggle and shake
And everyone swore they were poisoned
From eating Miss Fogarty’s cake
9. The Holly Bears a Berry (Sans Day Carol) - bradfordian and My guru always said
From the Oxford Book of Carols. Collected in Cornwall. St. Day was a Breton saint.
I thought this song needed more than just a solo voice, I wanted several voices, but I did not realise just how much time and effort
is required to get individuals together when one normally sings solo. In the end one kind soul took pity on me.
This was an interesting collaboration done entirely over the internet, not ever meeting my potential singing partner.
My thanks to “my guru always said” for agreeing to it and for her encouragement and patience. - Barrie Mathers
Now the Holly bears a berry as white as the milk
And Mary bore Jesus, who was wrapped up in silk.
(Chorus) And Mary bore Jesus Christ our Saviour to be
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly.
Holly, holly,
And the first tree in the greenwood it was the holly.
Now the Holly bears a berry as green as the grass
And Mary bore Jesus, who died on the cross.
Now the Holly bears a berry as black as the coal
And Mary bore Jesus, who died for us all.
Now the Holly bears a berry as blood is it red
Then trust we our Saviour who rose from the dead.
10. Christmas Tree Lament - Chas Clark
Written by Chas Clark © 1999
Chas Clark (Fidjit): Guitar and voice
The song came about after attending a meeting of the Enebakk Cultural Society (Enebakk Kulturforening) on Saturday November 28th 1999, where I’d heard Kjell Matteussen, a Puppeteer Theatre member reading an excerpt called, “Juletreet” – (The Christmas Tree), from Ragnhild Butenschön’s collection of “Eventyrs og Fabelene” (Adventures and Fables), published in, 1944. The story had been partially taken from the Danish author H.C. Andersen’s “Grantrae” (The Fir Tree).
In Norway the local communal government allows, for a minimal fee, its residents to cut down their own Christmas trees from the woods. The story tells of such an adventure from the tree’s point of view. Whilst growing in the woods, the tree longs each year to be tall enough to be chosen. Finally, it has reached the right height and is taken home to be decorated and the story ends when the star is placed on the top, the lights are switched and the children sing a Christmas carol. From a humble fir tree in the woods it has become a Christmas tree.
My version of the Christmas tree story begins with the very small tree in the woods asking, “What’s all this then? Christmas tree? What’s that all that about then?” The larger trees in the woods answering, “You don’t want to know.” Years go by and the tree gets to be the right size, so it’s at first excited when it is chosen to go with a family. The first word after that is, “Ouch! “ as they, the family, cut it off at the roots. In Butenschön’s version the tree is excited and happy with the nerve biting adventure. In my version, as it is tied to the roof of the car. “Help! I’m being tortured and abducted”.
Later as the warmth of the house weakens its strength, its needles begin to fall. The torture continues in the form of that they, the family, provide the base of the tree with sufficient water to prolong the agony. Then with ritual dances, singing and laughter that continues for a further twelve days and nights, when it is stripped of its glorification dressing and the skeleton is thrown out into the cold. To be blown around by the wind until the refuse removal men arrive to retrieve it from its hiding place behind some fence or bush to take them all to the “Furnaces of Hell”. In the text of my song I have made some references to the Charles Dickens Novel, A Christmas Carol. The Ghosts of Uncle Ebenezer Scrooge. Also there are references to the British, Tommy’s WWII, and saying of “This one won’t last long Lads”.
There is a known tendency to give children destructive toys. As boys we have all played with Soldiers and Cowboys and Indians. The trend continues today with Space Invaders and such. Lastly, I’d read earlier that year of 1999, in a newspaper that the children had cried when they’d heard that Father Christmas wouldn’t be able to reach Kosovo because of the war going on there.
On the 13th day of Christmas I'm dragged out in the hall,
My needles falling on the mat, the curse of one and all
And falling from the tennements, like a stockbroker suicide
Onto the cold, cold snow, a skeleton of pride
(Chorus) Blown by the wind, we roll around and hide
From the dustman's containers, where we will ride
To that graveyard of the Christmas tree and Uncle Scrooge's ghosts
Isn't it the common man that always gets hurt most.
Now different from the two weeks past when I was at my best
With a star upon my head and tinsel on my chest
And the sound of tearing paper, from underneath my skirt
Some handerkerchiefs, a pair of socks and another bloody shirt
Remember those pleasant days when the home it was the hub
The mistletoe, the kitchen shout of, ”I'm going down the pub”
And in '39 when they said this one, it wouln't be the same
We'll all be home by Christmas lads, singing Lily Marlene
Holding hands around me, they sing a Christmas song
This is the way we go to Church, the young ones trip along
There's a sound of children laughing, well they're playing with their guns
But in Kosovo the children cried when Santa didn't come.
11. Dance With The Dragon - Anne Lister
Lyrics, music and arrangement by Anne Lister ©. Produced by Liv Elliott.
Recorded at Overtones Studio, London, at Lyngham House, Cornwall and in Round Pond, Maine.
Anne Lister: guitar and vocals, Steafan Hannigan: bodhran and tabla,
Mike O’Connor: fiddle and concertina, Matt Crum: sax, Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee: harmony vocals.
Written at Hawkwood College, Gloucestershire in December 2001. It’s a carol, of course, and carols are meant to be danced.
Dragons have a habit of sneaking into my songs, so it’s no great surprise to find one hopping around in midwinter.
www.annelister.com
I danced with the dragon through the gates of the sun
As the daylight died
And the tune he was singing made the stars skip and run
In the deep night sky
Down in the forest at the turning of the year
The holly is still king
The trees sing the carols if you’ve ears for to hear
Bring the New Year in.
The dragon guards the fire with the curl of his tail
As the daylight dies
The starlight bends and fractures on a thousand gleaming scales
In the deep night sky
Here the logs are blazing and we sit by the fire
With our songs to sing
A challenge from the winter lord to find our heart’s desire
Bring the New Year in.
When you dance with the dragon be careful of his breath
As the daylight dies
The gates of the sun can lead to new life or death
In the deep night sky
Winter’s on the turning point, darkness will not last
Peace is on the wing
We’ll tell the tales of what’s to come remembering the past
Bring the New Year in.
The dance of the dragon is the flippant dance of time
As the daylight dies
Match him step for step, do not stumble out of line
In the deep night sky.
He’ll turn you and roll you around and around
Your head will rock and spin
And your world will seem much duller when your feet touch the ground
Bring the New Year in.
12. Sing A Song Of Christmas - Henry Clements
Tune trad., lyrics and arrangement by Henry Clements © 1992, 2006
Henry Clements (henryclem): Voice
This was written during that strange pause when George Bush Sr. and his allies
had booked their war in advance but not yet started hostilities.
From the Album Beacon Fires (2006)
www.myspace.com/henryclements
Sing a song of Christmas, goodwill to all men
take down the decorations, it’s back to war again;
when the fighting's over and we’ve restored the king,
there’ll be no vegetation, and no birds left to sing
Now someone’s in his counting-house, adding up the worth
of all the lives expended for this patch of earth;
and if he’s done his sums right it’s not a dainty dish:
there’s devastated oceans, all choked with poisoned fish
This might have been the Promised Land, fertile and always sunny;
now the air is thick and toxic, no more bread and honey
you’d not go in the garden, even if you chose:
if a bloom survived, ‘twould have no scent through the gas mask on your nose.
Sing a song of Easter, Resurrection’s feast;
but you’ll see no phoenix rising from the ashes of the East;
so find another planet not done to death by men;
and then, if Christ has any sense, it’s there he'll rise again.
13. The Turning of the Year - Steve Suffet
Words & music by Steve Suffet © (Suffet)
Steve Suffet: Guitar and voice, Eric Levine: Banjo, voice, Gina Tlamsa: Fiddle, voice, Joel Landy and Anne Price: Voices.
Together the five of us made up the band MacDougal Street Rent Party.
This song was a present to a dear friend who lost her sister in a freak accident on Thanksgiving Day 2000
and who then lost her boyfriend at the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001.
From the CD Now The Wheel Has Turned
www.stevesuffet.com
(Chorus) There’ll be time again for laughter,
There’ll be time again for song,
There’ll be time again for shouting out,
With voices proud and strong,
There’ll be time again for loving,
The time is drawing near,
There’ll be time again for music,
With the turning of the year.
Was a time of sacred blessing,
Was a time of evil curse,
Was a time of contradiction,
The best of times and worst,
Was a time of brilliant vision,
And a time of darkest fear,
There’ll be time again for music,
With the turning of the year.
[repeat chorus]
I’ve heard the holy trumpet,
And I’ve heard the sacred harp,
I’ve heard the Angel Gabriel,
Triumphant by the Ark,
When I listen to your singing,
It’s God’s voice that I hear,
There’ll be time again for music,
With the turning of the year.
[repeat chorus]
14. Gower Wassail (Trad.) - Rapunzel and Sedayne
Trad. Phil Tanner/arr. Venereum Arvum
Rapunzel: Voice and frame drum
Sedayne (Suibhne O’Piobaireachd): crwth, kaossilator and voice
Recorded at The Robber’s Dog Folk Club, Sheffield, December 2010. A nice old chestnut, suitably roasted in good company.
A-wassail, a-wassail throughout of this town
Our cup it is white and our ale it is brown
Our wassail is made of good ale and cake
Some nutmeg and ginger, the best we can bake
(Refrain) Al dal di dal di dal
Dal di dal di dal
Dal di dal di dee
Sing deero, sing daddy
Sing too ral di do
We know by the moon that we are not too soon
And we know by the sky that we are not too high
We know by the star that we are not too far
And we know by the ground that we are within sound
Now Master and Mistress, know you will give
Unto our jolly wassail as long as you live
And if we do life to another new year
We’ll call in again just to see who lives here
15. Sweet Chiming Bells (Trad.) - Mary Humphreys and Anahata
Mary Humphreys: Voice, Anahata (treewind): Voice and concertina
www.treewind.co.uk
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around
And glory shone around
(Chorus) Sweet bells, sweet chiming Christmas bells (sweet bells)
Sweet bells, sweet chiming Christmas bells (sweet bells)
They cheer us on our heavenly way
Sweet chiming bells
“Fear not,” he said, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled minds
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind,
To you and all mankind.”
“To you in David’s town this day
Is born of David’s line
The Savior who is Christ the Lord,
And this shall be the sign
And this shall be the sign.”
“The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed
And meanly wrapped in swathing bands
And in a manger laid
And in a manger laid.”
Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song
Addressed their joyful song
“All glory be to God on high
And to the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease
Begin and never cease!”
16. A Sprengisandi - Rosin Okkar
Music by Sigvaldi Kaldalóns, Lyrics by Grímur Thomse ©
Skarphéðinn Haraldsson (skarpi): guitar, bodhran, lead singer,
Helgi E. Kristjánsson: Bass, guitar, voices, Rósa Jóhannesdóttir: Fiddle.
Ríðum, ríðum, rekum yfir sandinn,
rennur sól á bak við Arnarfell.
Hér á reiki' er margur óhreinn andinn
úr því fer að skyggja á jökulsvell.
Drottinn leiði drösulinn mmnn,
drjúgur verður síðasti áfanginn.
Drottinn leiði drösulinn mmnn,
drjúgur verður síðasti áfanginn.
Þei þei, þei þei. Þaut í holti tófa,
þurran vill hún blóði væta góm,
eða líka einhver var að hóa
undarlega digrum karlaróm.
:,:Útilegumenn í Ódáðahraun
eru kannski' að smala fé á laun.:,:
Ríðum, ríðum, rekum yfir sandinn,
rökkrið er að síga' á Herðubreið.
Álfadrotting er að beisla gandinn,
ekki' er gott að verða' á hennar leið.
:,:Vænsta klárinn vildi' ég gefa til
að vera kominn ofan í Kiðagil.:,:
17. Jingle Bells - Marty Kohn
Marty Kohn (Cool Beans): Guitar
James Pierpont wrote “Jingle Bells” in the 1850s, inspired by the sleigh races
in his Massachusetts hometown. No fool he, Pierpont later moved to Florida.
Also pretty shrewd was his little nephew: J.P. Morgan.
From Marty Kohn’s CD Drawerful of Fives
18. Sweet Perfection (Joseph’s Carol) - Claire Beorn Norman
Lyrics © 2006, 2010 Claire Beorn Norman, Tune trad. English (“I Live Not Where I Love”)
Claire Beorn Norman (ClaireBear): Voice and concertina, Jon Berger: Melodeon, violin, viola, harmony voice
This was inspired by a siege in Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. I'd always wanted to write a Christmas carol to this glorious tune, but didn't see this one coming.
In the sere and silent desert in the deepest hour of night,
Lo, a village lies in slumber ’neath the stars’ inconstant light
Though a weary world will waken when the day returns to dwell,
Still for now in sweet perfection sleep in peace, O Israel.
At the very hour of midnight in a chamber carved of earth
Where the sheep and ox find shelter, Mary labors giving birth.
By her side is Joseph watching; takes her hand and sighs her name,
Yearns for when she was his only, ere the day her God laid claim.
Sudden comes a shaft of starlight piercing through the heart of dark.
Overhead the Star of Wonder blazes bright and finds its mark.
Angels sing their hallelujahs rising in a cresting wave
It is done as it was written: Christ is come the world to save.
Why is it, now Joseph ponders, that this lot on me is cast?
That the prophets’ ancient story through my Mary comes to pass?
There He lies in sweet perfection – angels bright His praise intone.
Why does overwhelming sorrow bind my heart like bands of stone?
Mary rises from her labor, folds the Baby to her breast,
Lifts from Him her gaze so tender, lets her eyes on Joseph rest.
Joseph smiles in sad acceptance, nods his head though tears do well.
Bravely he will bear the burden, raise a Son for Israel.
But oh, the pain that comes from knowing – for he knows, as sure as tears -
What will come of sweet perfection with the passage of the years.
Why must what was done to save us cause such sorrow, bring such woe?
For hope and grief were born together in a stable long ago.
19. When Father Was Pantomime Dame - Leadfingers
Written by Adrian May ©
Terry Silver (Leadfingers): Guitar and voice
Written and performed as part of ‘Xmasphobia’, a sort of Folk Christmas Revue featuring Adrian May and Chris Weger
singing their own songs with a Christmas slant `round the clubs in the late Nineteen Seventies, and available on cassette at each performance.
I went to visit a show, the Christmas Do at the Hippodrome
The sort of jolly panto that gets Joe Public out of his home
The comic really earned his fee, dressed up and screaming raucously
Imagine it if you can - me clocking my old man
(Chorus) When Father was Pantomime Dame I didnt die of shame
Though he was swishing around in a dress
I told ‘em I couldn’t care less
They said “That’s never your father Jim”
I answered boldly “Oh yes its him”
“Oh no it isnt!” “Oh yes it is!” “Oh no it isnt!” “Oh yes it is!”
My life was never the same, when Father was Pantomime Dame
I never realised Dad was a vocalist and a Thespian
My friends all said “He’s gone mad!”
One jeered “Your mother’s a Lesbian”
I thumped his head, the dozy lout and told him talent will always out
Though Father’s dresses were loud I really was quite proud
Now they’ve stopped saying that dad is into transvestitism
With all the applause that he had
For he’s the one the spotlight is on
He’s the kind of genius that, even if you thought he looks a prat
He’s the kind you never could forge - and Father knew Boy George
For now he’s top of the bill, and making thousands of people laugh
My friends they pester me still, but asking now for his autograph
To see him in trousers is a shock -
They think he always wears a frock
It puzzles Dad to be frank, all the way to the bank
20. Nowell And Nowell (Trad.) - John Burton
John Burton (JohnB) and The Orange Peel Carollers: Voices
I am part of a group who call ouselves the "Orange Peel Carollers". We are mainly from Orange Peel Morris,
and we try to re-create the Sheffield Carolling in our bit of Canada.
The song was noted by Cecil Sharp and Bartle Symons at Camborne, Cornwall (19 May 1913), and was printed in
The Journal of the Folk-Song Society, V (18) 1914, 26-7. Bartle Symons had taken down the words from Mr James Thomas;
they were, it seems, “substantially the same” as those he had learned as a boy from a Mr Spargo, who was at the time
“70 or 80 years of age”. Sharp noted the tune from Mr Symons’ singing.
www.orange-peel-morris.ca/OP/Carolling.html
“Nowell and Nowell” the angels did say,
To shepherds there in the fields did lay;
A’ laying in and a’ folding their sheep,
One winter’s night both cold and bleak.
(Chorus) Nowell and Nowell! Nowell and Nowell!
Born is the King of Israel!
Nowell and Nowell! Nowell and Nowell!
Born is the King of Israel!
And lo, there did appear a star
To wise men three from country far;
Unto the earth it gave a great light
And so it continued by day and by night.
The star drew near unto the north-west
O’er Bethlehem city it took its rest
And there it did both stand and stay,
Right over the place where our Lord lay.
Then entered in those wise men three,
With reverence, upon their knee,
And offered up, in rich potence,
Both gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Between an ox-manger and an ass,
There our blessed Messiah was;
To save our souls from sin and thrall,
He is the Redeemer of us all.
21. Cold Winter Is Coming (Trad.) - Dan Schatz
Dan Schatz: Voice and Apollonio guitar
This American version of an unusual English Midwinter is found in
Thomas Cheney’s "Mormon Songs from the Rocky Mountains."
I learned it from the singing of Ed Trickett.
www.danschatz.com
Cold winter is coming, there’s frost in the air
The beautiful summer is past.
Flowers are all dying that once were so fair,
Their fragrance has gone with the blast.
Oh, the tops of the mountains are covered with snow;
The north wind blows under your door.
Then, if you are able to pay what you owe,
‘Tis time to remember the poor.
Cold winter is coming, his footsteps draw near,
He will spread desolation around.
And make the earth dreary and frosty and sere
And scatter the snow o’er the ground.
Oh, the leaves have turned yellow and fallen from trees,
The beautiful harvest is o’er,
And the beautiful brooks are beginning to freeze.
‘Tis time to remember the poor.
Cold winter is coming, his cold, icy breath
Is whistling through mountain and dell.
All nature he’ll touch with the finger of death,
And lock up the earth with his spell.
He will laugh at the needy and mock at the poor,
As widely he opens their door.
Then try to spare something; a mite every day
A blessing will seem to the poor.
Cold winter is coming. Where plenty abounds,
The dance and the song will be heard.
With mirth and with music your halls will resound,
And many will bow at your word
Then remember the poor, let their hearts be made glad
By something you spare from your store.
It will nourish the feeble and cheer up the sad,
So be sure to remember the poor.
22. Raise Your Voices In The Song (Of Peace On Earth) - Jeanene Pratt
(Music: R. Jeanene Pratt © 1993; Lyrics R. Jeanene Pratt © 1993, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011)
Jeanene Pratt (Genie): Voice, guitar, tambourine, Tamara L. Aburto-Pratt: Voice
This song basically sprang spontaneously into my head as I was doing routine housework
one day back in 1993. My sister Tammy improvised harmony for it when we sang it at a Christmas Eve service
later that year. Since then I’ve done very minor tweaking of the original lyrics.
www.youtube.com/WildeNotesMusic
Many, many years ago, in a time of strife and woe,
In a little village they call Bethlehem,
God sent down a legacy, precious gift for you and me,
Holy baby born to be our savior & friend.
Angel voices rang across the winter sky
Telling all the world the story of the holy birth!
Joyous! Joyous! What a celebration!
Angel voices sang the song of “Peace On Earth!”
Shepherds tending flocks, they say, in fields not far away
Heard music floating through the skies above.
From their labors long they stopped to listen to the song,
Then went to Bethlehem to show their love.
They stopped. They hushed. They listened while the angels sang,
Telling all the world the story of the holy birth!
Then joyous! Joyous! They joined the celebration,
Raised their voices in the song of “Peace On Earth!”
Centuries have gone their way. Do the people of today
Know the deeper meaning of this season of the year?
Many times the neon lights hide that ancient star from sight
And the song of peace can be so hard to hear.
So stop. Hush. Listen while the angels sing,
Telling all the world the story of the holy birth!
Then joyous! Joyous! Join the celebration,
Raise your voices in the song of “Peace On Earth!”
Th’ angels’ song is still alive; in faith and love it can survive,
And it gives our hearts a reason to rejoice.
You may not hear it in the air, but if you pause to say a prayer
You will hear it echo in that still, small voice.
So stop! Hush! Listen while the angels sing
Telling all the world the story of the holy birth!
Then joyous! Joyous! Join the celebration,
Raise your voices in the song of "Peace On Earth!"
23. Rebel Jesus - Amos Jessup
Written by Jackson Browne ©, published by Swallow Turn Music
Amos Jessup (Amos): Guitar and voice
24. Ice Storm - maeve
Written by Holly R. Torsey ©. Used with permission
maeve: Guitar and voice, Yurt: Acoustics
The rain was falling down in sheets of silver as the cold descended.
Ice had glazed your old, blue truck, felling trees and downing lines.
We filled the kettles full. We stoked up all the fires,
The lights went out and there we sat, contented.
In crystal-studded morning, we slid down the icy hill. The air was hushed,
Except our footsteps and the chanting of the chickadees.
We carried buckets to the stream still flowing in violet shadows.
Joy was in your eyes. How I loved you!
(Chorus) Well water, sweet and clean, is out of reach today.
Power lines along the road are heavy; all strung with pearls.
Stack up more firewood, then set the bread to rise,
In time our hearts will make us wise.
I reached to take each bucket from your hands; then lifting, carried each one
Back from stream to frozen hill. You filled my buckets nigh as full
As yours were, knowing I am strong, yet when I paused to catch my breath
You stopped, and walked along beside me.
My joy is not the glory of the sky like blueberries in hot July,
Nor the weeping diamond lace of apple trees that sparkle;
It is the sweet, unconscious grace - as bodies move together;
Lifting, pouring, living water.
(Chorus)
Our work together is our answer to the ice and stormy weather.
Sky grows bright as we keep pace. We give a prayer of thanks.
I take your hand, you pull me onward. Ravens, laughing by the garden gate,
Surely know the joys of living.
Some morning when your work’s complete you’ll let go of my hand. I know
I’ll go and fetch the water, stoke the fire, set the bread to rise.
For I am strong, and you’ll be waiting for me.
Some bright day, we’ll go again; we’ll fetch the water.
(Chorus)
Some morning when your work’s complete - you’ll let go of my hand.
- I’ll fetch the water.