Your best Christmas song: What is it?

Subject: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: mauvepink
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 08:34 AM

What is your favourite folk song at this time of year? One you sing, one you listen to, one you love... whichever

FRom folkish roots I listen to "Fairytale in New York" (The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl) throughout the year but it does have special meanings to this time. I also like hearing Mark Dowding singing "Christmas 1914" (by Mike Harding)

I have lots of other genres of songs I love too. What are yours?

... and Merry Christmas one and all while I write this :-)

mp

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Tim Chesterton
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 10:01 AM

It varies every year, but this year I think it's the Falcon Carol/Corpus Christi Carol/Down in Yon Forest family of traditional songs. I'm also doing 'Past Three O'Clock' and 'The Holly and the Ivy' quite a bit.

And in other genres, I find this one quite apropos.

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: johncharles
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 12:06 PM

I heard the bells on christmas day

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: GUEST,Jane Ann Liston
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 01:12 PM

'Grandma got run over by a reindeer'. Can't remember who performed it, though I noticed the American Tea Party were using the tune for one of their ditties.

I also like Bill Barclay's 'Twelve Days of Christmas' - that's the one which goes from 'a Wee Heavy and a half pint' to 'Twelve Alkaseltzers'.

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: GUEST,Victor Marques (portuguese)
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 01:30 PM

All Christmas songs are beautiful, but for me there´s a song which makes me cry when I listen to it or try to sing it - "I´ll be home for Christmas".

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: oldhippie
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 03:25 PM

Serious: Stan Rogers' "First Christmas"
Humourous: "Mrs. Fogarty's Christmas Cake"

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Van
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 03:58 PM

Maddy Prior singing the holly and the ivy.

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: GUEST,zydaco
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 03:59 PM

geaorge micheal,s "Last christmas",

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 04:03 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_eiR6hJ7z4

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 06:56 PM

How about the Shane McGowan collaboration with The Priests, singing Little Drummer Boy, issued today - the outcome of a game of Musical Consequences, perhaps?

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 07:00 PM

I have many but at the moment my favourite to listen to and/or to sing is "I am Christmas" by Bill Meek with tune by John Conolly as featured on John's "Grumpy old men of old England" CD and probably on Mymusic or Youtube somewhere.
geoff turner

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 08:27 PM

Well, currently, I've just found a recording of Chris Woods accapella setting of Robert Sutherlands poem "The Burning Babe"
Just astonishing. Don't think it's ever been released sadly.
Well worth asking him to sing it, if you ever go to one of his gigs though.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BURNING BABE (Robert Southwell)
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 08:34 PM

That should read "Robert Southwell" sorry.


FROM St. Peter's Complaint, 1595
THE BURNING BABE.
By Robert Southwell

As I in hoary winter's night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow ;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,
A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear ;
Who, scorchëd with excessive heat, such floods of tears did shed
As though his floods should quench his flames which with his tears were fed.
Alas, quoth he, but newly born in fiery heats I fry,
Yet none approach to warm their hearts or feel my fire but I !
My faultless breast the furnace is, the fuel wounding thorns,
Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, the ashes shame and scorns ;
The fuel justice layeth on, and mercy blows the coals,
The metal in this furnace wrought are men's defilëd souls,
For which, as now on fire I am to work them to their good,
So will I melt into a bath to wash them in my blood.
With this he vanished out of sight and swiftly shrunk away,
And straight I callëd unto mind that it was Christmas day.

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 09:28 PM

For traditional songs it's probably "Leaping and Dancing," an Iberian carol, and for modern it's a tossup between John McCurcheon's "Christmas in the Trenches," which everyone knows, and Magpie's "No Room for You at the Inn," which not everyone knows, but they should. AMAZINGLY good song.

Dan

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Beer
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 10:36 PM

Oldhippie, I'm with you on the serious one you mentioned.
Stan Rogers, "First Christmas" great great song and I love to sing it. Here are a few others on the serious side.

Jesus The fugitive Prince by David Massengill
Circle of Steel by Gordon Lightfoot
Christmas in the Trenches
Fairytale in New York a great one.

Some lighter ones that I like are:
Song for a Winter's Night by Lightfoot
Christmas in Killarney
Cape Breton Christmas Morn
Any Mummer's Aloud
At Last I'm Ready For Christmas by Stan Rogers
and Ole Olady Olady I Oh
Ad.

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 11:22 PM

Yep that a very nice song Old Git

I am Christmas - John Conolly

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Beer
Date: 12 Dec 10 - 11:33 PM

Thank you Old Git and thank you Arthur for finding the song and posting it. Absolutely great.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 01:56 PM

"This is the Truth sent from Above". Collected in Herefordshire by Ella Mary Leather and Ralph Vaughan Williams ... a favourite since schooldays, and one which I hadn't realised was a legitimate folk carol until a few years ago!

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Neil D
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 05:19 PM

"The Rebel Jesus"
by Jackson Browne. Here's a version with him being backed by The Chieftains

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 07:38 PM

Christmas Eve 1914, from a Mike Harding album.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 07:44 PM

Christmas is the only time I sing "Time to remember the poor" from the Kidson collection... and also, "Nobody loves a fairy".

Kitty

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Beer
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 08:24 PM

Neil,
That is a great song. Have it on my list to sing this coming Friday.
Kitty, I am not familiar with those two numbers. I must try and locate them.
Ad.

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: GUEST,Salsa
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 08:30 PM

The Gift of the Tree from Tommy Makem's Christmas Album. Does anyone have the words to that and know who wrote it. I understand that the woman who wrote it wrote many other poems too.

Merry Christmas

Subject: RE: Your favorite Christmas song: What is it?
From: Genie
Date: 13 Dec 10 - 11:50 PM

A couple I never get tired of hearing:

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen/We Three Kings medley by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah MacLachlan

Mary's Boy Child/O My Lord by Boney M.


Of course, when it comes to singing carols, I never get tired of Silent Night, It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, and Joy To The World

Subject: Lyr Add: ME AND SANTA, WE'VE GOT AN UNDERSTANDIN'
From: reggie miles
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 02:03 AM

ME AND SANTA, WE'VE GOT AN UNDERSTANDIN'
by Reggie Miles © 2008

Me and Santa we've got an understandin'

While he's workin' in his toy shop, all year long
I'll be hangin' round here, just a singin' this song
Can havin' this much fun really be so wrong?
Yep, me and Santa we've got an understandin'

As he packs up his sleigh, full of all sorts of toys
For all those good little girls and boys
I'll be strummin' my guitar 'n' makin' some noise
Cuz me and Santa we've got an understandin'

Me and Santa we've got an understandin'

Santa understands I'm too busy to lend a hand
Each year as Christmas time draws near
He and the elves will have to fill the toy shelves themselves
Besides, I think I'm allergic to reindeer

Then on Christmas Eve, late at night
When Santa and his reindeer take to the sky in flight
I'll be safe on the ground, hopin' everything goes alright
Cuz me and Santa we've got an understandin'

And while he's surfing the clouds on his midnight ride
With my warm cup of cocoa I'll stay inside
And sit by the fire and rock and glide
Cuz me and Santa we've got an understandin'

Me and Santa we've got an understandin'

Santa understands I'm too busy to lend a hand
Each year as Christmas time draws near
He knows I'm all thumbs when it comes to tyin' ribbon bows
And besides, I think that I'm allergic to reindeer (Ah-choo!)


While he's out there freezin' off his big behind
Slippin' on every icy roof line
I'll be chuggin' mugs of eggnog and feelin' real fine
Cuz me and Santa we've got an understandin'

When he's slidin' along on the snow and ice
Makin' his list and checkin' it twice
I'll be tryin' to remember if I was more naughty or nice
Cuz me and Santa we've got an understandin'

Me and Santa we've got an understandin'

Santa understands that makin' sleigh ride flight plans
Makes me weak in the knees
I'm no good with heights and untanglin' Christmas lights
And reindeer make me sneeze (Ahchoo!)

And as he streaks through the heavens, his cheeks all rosy red
I'll be nestled all toasty tucked away in my bed
With visions of sugar plum fairies dancin' round my head
Cuz me and Santa we've got an understandin'

As he's stuffin' his big belly down all those chimney flues
And scarfin' up his milk and cookie dues
I'll be pickin' and singin' these ol' Yuletide blues
Cuz me and Santa we've got an understandin'

Me and Santa we've got an understandin'

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: GUEST,HelenJ
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 02:55 AM

The Boar's Head Carol

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 03:39 AM

Fairytale in New York" by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl is always going to be my all time favourite I never tire of it unlike many of the others.

Jethro Tull's Christmas song is another that I never tire of so much.

Harry Belafonte's Mary's Boy Child still makes me cry and Nina and Frederick's 'Little Donkey.'

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 04:02 AM

Another vote for the Boar's Head Carol. Jon Boden's A Folk Song A Day blog has featured some magnificent carols over the last few days; today's (as I write) is the Holly and the Ivy.

I like to sing Shepherds Arise if I get the chance, and A Maid That Is Makeles (although I change the last word to 'matchless', as that's what it means). And the Moving On Song, although it's as much as I can do to get through the 'seasonal' verse* without choking up. It's a good season for religious slumming - indulging my inner believer!

*The winter sky was hung with stars
And one shone brighter than the rest...

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: Allan C.
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 05:42 AM

These are still among my favorites.

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: I don't know
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 06:06 AM

Kate Rusby singing While Shepherds watch there flocks by night
Sid Kippers The Poachers Christmas

Subject: RE: Your best Christmas song: What is it?
From: dwditty
Date: 14 Dec 10 - 08:37 AM

Pretty Little Baby