Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious

Subject: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 05:20 AM

What are people's favourite Christmas songs that aren't religious? I think that "Last Christmas" by Wham! has GOT to be in there. I never feel Christmassy unless I hear it but I've heard it loads of times so I'm really Christmassy now. All together now.... "Last Christmas I gave you my heart but the very next day you gave it away..." AAAAAH!

BTW this is the first message that I've touch typed. Not bad seeing as I only started to learn on Saturday (it's Monday now!!)

Merry Christmas, Solstice or whatever!

Firecat! (aka Katy or Wednesday Addams! :-)))) )

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 05:59 AM

Firecat, this means that Moricia is your mum!

Be afraid, be absolutely terrified!!

I must confess to a complete and utter loathing of any version of 'White Christmas', but rather fond of the Bing & Bowie 'Little Drummer Boy'.... don't ask why!!

I suppose when Slade start doing the 'Wish it could be Christmas every day', then I know the season of merriment is upon us....

LTS

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 06:00 AM

Oops, buggered that didn't I! Slade did 'So here it is, Merry Christmas', Wizzard did the other one.

LTS

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 06:01 AM

I guess I'm partial to "Silver Bells" and "White Christmas" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" - but I like the religious ones better. Riu, Riu, Chiu is one that has caught my fancy in recent years, and Gaudete, as performed by Steeleye Span. I suppose my all-time favorite is "Carol of the Bells." These three don't hit you as being religious at first, but the lyrics are all religious.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 06:03 AM

Joe, that's sneaky!!! I'll let you off though seeing as it's you! :-))

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 08:14 AM

Definately "Christmas Is" by the Harry Simeone Choir. It's on the Christmas record my grandmother bought for my very first Christmas in 1978 (I was 21 days old at the time).

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: MMario
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 08:49 AM

Admittedly I have a warped sense of reality - but for me, any Christmas song is religious. I am unable to seperate my beliefs from what reminds me of Christmas.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 09:07 AM

Fairytale of New York (Shane McGowan) is my bestest favourite (right now anyway). But all christmas songs are fun because most people sort of know them & its a good excuse for a howl-along. Someone sang a really great trad one on Saturday night, but I can't remember anything else other than I REALLY liked it, & meant to look up the words. It'll come back to me in the middle of the night no doubt.

Kris

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 09:47 AM

Ooops, I forgot the new Sugababes one! It's called "New Year" but it's about someone leaving them a year ago at Christmas. I cried when I first heard it!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Mrrzy
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 09:53 AM

Little Drummer Boy is very Christian, but also very beautiful. I guess if you ignore the Christ part you get a lot of Santa ones, I like Up On The Housetop and Jolly Old Saint Nicholas (oops, it's got the word Saint in it!). I also like I'll be home for Christmas and (I'm ashamed to admit it) Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. I like the unusual religious ones (creep creep) like The Friendly Beasts and Jehovah Halleluliah (The Lord Will Provide) about there being no room at the inn.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: GeorgeH
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 11:33 AM

To reduce this to my level . .

Roaring Jelly's "Christmas in Australia" and "I'm only a poor little Turkey . . "

On the other hand, if we're allowed tunes (songs without words, to clear up any ambiguity . . ) the Shetland version of Christmas Day in the Morning, especially in the version Pyewackett dedicated (on record) to our late friend Nigel Chipendale . .

I HATE little drummer boy (sickly-sweet) and enjoy White Christmas in the film but not anywhere else!

G.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Kim C
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 11:54 AM

"Sidemeat's Christmas Goose" by Riders in the Sky!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: DougR
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 12:32 PM

"Christmas Song," "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Like Joe, though, I prefer the religious one the best, particular choral works (hope I can be excused too since I didn't mention of the religious songs).

DougR

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: mousethief
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 12:59 PM

Call me a child of rock and roll, but I love "Feliz Navidad" and "Happy Christmas/War is Over." Also Elton John's "Step into Christmas" and Paul McC's "Simply Have a Wonderful Christmas Time"

Alex

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Mrrzy
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 01:22 PM

On the Jehovah Halleluliah album I have, Harry Belafonte: Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat / Please put a penny in the old man's hat / If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do / If you haven't got a ha'penny then God Bless You! (Can be done as a round or canon, I believe). I love that one - does saying God Bless You make it religious? It seems to be about what I consider the true secular meaning of the holiday, being goodwill to others, especially those less fortunate.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Morticia
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 01:24 PM

My favourite has got to be Tom Lehrer's one that goes;

Christmas time is here by golly
Disaproval would be folly
Deck the halls with hunks of holly
Fill the cup and don't say when

What is it called, anyone know?
BTW Firecat, you can't possibly be Wednesday, You aren't nearly unpleasant, vicious or gory enough.....that, I fear, is the exclusive preserve of my own dear child. (Sob)It makes me SO proud.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: mousethief
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 01:46 PM

The Tom Lehrer song is called "A Christmas Carol."

Alex

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: The Walrus at work
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 01:59 PM

Some friends had made a Christmas compilation tape over the weekend, it brough back a few memories.. Does anyone else remember "Six White Boomers"?

Walrus

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: SeanM
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 02:03 PM

Ah, I think that the best for me would probably be things along the lines of "A Consort of Choral Christmas Carols" from PDQ Bach (featuring amongst others, "O Little Town of Hackensack"), or any of a number of bizzare re-recorded Christmas Covers. I've got 4-5 CDs of nothing but odd music for the season... and it gets pretty odd...

"12 Days of Christmas" by the McKenzie Brothers (of Strange Brew/SCTV fame)

"Christmas in the Stars" by C3PO/R2D2 (unlistenable, but... hell. Just unlistenably painful)

"Silent Night" by the Dickies (LA punk band doing a punked out, but remarkably straight, cover)

"Jingle Bells" by Booker T & the MGs...

The list goes on...

M

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

The Christmas albums by Maddy Prior & The Renaissance Band. Talk about Latin Christmas Renaissance Punk!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Ely
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 02:55 PM

That Christmas sequel to "Snoopy Versus the Red Baron".

I grew up with "Feliz Navidad" and my father singing the Chipmunks Christmas song ("We can hardly stand the wait/Please, Christmas, don't be late!").

I've always loved the Carol of the Bells but I don't know if it's religious or not.

Actually, there are very few Christmas songs I like. I don't know why so many of them bug me, but they do. My favorite religious one is probably "Friendly Beasts" (always a sucker for animals); I was pretty annoyed when the Quaker hymnal finally came out in 1996 and left out a verse.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Hotspur
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 03:06 PM

Do wassails count as religious? If so, I'm creeping...b/c the Gloucestershire Wassail is SO much fun!

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Bert
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 03:08 PM

Pretty Paper
Scarlet Ribbons
Hot Buttered Rum

Subject: Lyr Add: HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
From: NightWing
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 03:34 PM

Astounding! Twenty posts in and no one has mentioned my favorite Christmas song (which happens to be non-religious): Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Does anyone know what play/movie/whatever it's from?

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make your heart be gay
From now on our troubles will be miles away

Here we are,
As in olden days
Happy golden days
Of yore

Faithful friends
Who are dear to us
Gather near to us
Once more.

Through the years we all will be together
As the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bow

And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

I still hear it with Kermit and Fozzy and the rest singing with John.

BB,
NightWing

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Morticia
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 04:04 PM

It's from an old movie starring Judy Garland....Meet me in St Louis perhaps? Damned if I can remember which one exactly.....but it had Margaret O'Brian in it too.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Penny S.
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 04:47 PM

I'm totally split-brained over the Garland. I like the tune, I like her singing it, I like singing along with her singing it, I like singing it. But then I listen to the words, and think of all the smashed families I know who will not be together because whatever the fates allow, the new partners won't. In some cases, it's not possible for people to make arrangements until the last minute because they are not let know the times which would be convenient for the deserting parent to have their access.

So Bah humbug!

And has anyone seen the trail for the three tenors singing Jingle Bells? Weird.

Penny

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: The Walrus
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 05:48 PM

I'm sorry, but I can never hear "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" without slipping back into a much darker film memory, "The Victors" (not a plesant association), I can't see why it should have affected me so much, I must just have been impressionable at the time.

Walrus

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 07:31 PM

I'm Father Christmas, little folk
Well, you know I love a joke
See I have a big mince pie
Come and taste it ,who will try
Ha ha ha , hee hee hee , ho ho ho ho ho ho!

My big mince pie is stuffed with plums
Come alomg put in your thumbs
All you pull out you may take
Toy or apple book or cake
Ha ha ha ,hee hee hee, ho ho ho ho ho ho!

Guess that's just the kid in me!! Although verging on the religious I was also impressed by Little Ducklings donkey song that included the lines
Hee haw, hee haw doesn't anybody care
There's a baby in my dinner and it's just not fair!!!
Can't remember the rest .

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 07:34 PM

"Meet Me in St. Louis" is the right movie, Morticia. I actually liked the Halloween sequence in that best.

A song I like but haven't heard much lately is "Thirty-two Feet and Eight Little Tails", but I like all sorts of Christmas music.

Favorites include:

A-Soalin'
Christmas Island (especially the Jimmy Buffet version)
Some Children See Him (well, I guess that one's kind of religious, but it's rare.)
I'll Be Home for Christmas (My uncle, on leave from WWII one year and having to go back, wore my mom's copy of the record out by letting it play over and over and over. I can't hear it without seeing him in my mind.)
Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rhum (Jimmy Buffet again...)
Must Be Santa
Nutrocker
Silver and Gold
The entire soundtrack to "The Nightmare Before Christmas"
and, when I can't take it any more
RuPaul's version of "All I Want for Christmas"

Now I'm going to wander off and see if there's a "favorite Christmas songs, religious thread...

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Gary T
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 07:35 PM

"Christmas Boogie" by the Davis Sisters.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Morticia
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 08:25 PM

What's the song Eartha Kitt did for Xmas? I had a thousand store jobs over the Xmas holidays and that's a tune I remember but I can't remember what it's called......ah senility, where is thy sting?

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 08:30 PM

One of my faves is the Boxing Day song "The King" i.e.
Joy, health, love and peace
Be all here in this place
By your leave we will sing
Concerning our King

one of the Cutty Wren carols.

I also love "Hail Smiling Morn"
which is a great Christmas carol which contains absolutely no reference to anything religious, or christmassy at all. (although people from Barnsley sing it with references to "heaven" which just do not scan right.

I must also throw into the pot that excelent song by the late Alex Harvey -
"There's no lights on the Christmas tree Mother,
They're burning Big Louie tonight"
Wes Hale!
Geoff the Duck

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Jo King
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 09:38 PM

Hello folks,

I think the Eartha Kitt song is called "Santa Baby". One of my favourites would have to be Stan Rodgers' song "First Christmas." It is a great song, but don't listen to it if this is your first Christmas away from home (unless you want to give the tear ducts a good flushing).

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 02:18 AM

Christ's mass; the mass of Christ. Difficult to make it sound non-religious. Strange. I realize that we do say Xmas sometimes but even that is only a partial departure.

I'm beginning to see why the public schools no longer allow it to be termed Christmas. It would be interesting to see about 50 years into the future...

Ebbie, The Boring Pedant (And that always sounds deviant to me. It's getting late.)

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 02:44 AM

Morticia, the song is "Santa Baby" and it was one of the songs I thought about when I saw this thread. And Walrus, I have that same association with the song--the execution of Private Slovick (perhaps not his name in the movie), with the camera in a helicopter pulling away from the battle weary soldiers who have been forced to become a firing squad as they take aim at the deserter...an unforgettable scene. The third one is the Tom Lehrer:

"Hark the Herald Tribune sings, advertising wondrous things..." and "Let those raucous sleigh-bells jingle, hail our dear old friend Kris Kringle, driving his reindeer across the sky...don't stand underneath as they fly by."

--seed

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: P05139
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 04:27 AM

Errrrr, Morticia, if I'm not gruesome or gory enough, how come I'm always thinking of nasty ways to "dispose" of people I don't like? The Aztec Fire Torture, mixed with the Aztec Arrow Torture is a good one hehhehhehheh ...

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Bagpuss
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 05:11 AM

Must agree that Fairytale of New York is the best ever. It never feels like christmastime until I have heard this on the radio.

Has nobody mentioned the great Spike Milligan's "I'm Walking Backwards for Christmas"?

And for a real sickener, how about "The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot".....?

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 07:26 AM

I am shocked that the schools in America do not allow term Christmas. In the UK we are obliged to give preference to Christian festivals in our schools but also include major festivals from all (or as many as we can)other major world religions and we call them by their correct names!! I am not a Christian but have no problems teaching the story of the nativity any more than the Ramayanna,stories from the life of Mohammed and many others.
BTW Xmas should be pronounced Christmas as the X is an established abbreviation for Christ.
Anyway what DO you call it then,Ebbie?

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Troll
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 08:02 AM

Grandma got run over by a reindeer
Coming home from our house Chrietmas Eve
There are folks who don't believe in Santa
But as for me and grandpa, we believe.
How 'bout "Christmas Day" by The Pogues? (I think that's the name."And the bells were ringing out on Christmas Day".
I'm gettin' nuthin'for Christmas ("cause I ain't been nuthin' but bad")

troll Happy Happy. Joy Joy.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 08:03 AM

Walrus - Six white Boomers - GET OUT OF THE GENE POOL!!!

Ye Gods! I thought Morty was perverted!!

How about 'All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth'?

And I LOOOOOOVVVVVVE Santa Baby.... makes me go all squidgy.... oooooooooooooooo....

LTS

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: Robby
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 08:03 AM

Well Mrs. Duck,

That has its origins in the founding of the USA and the disdain for official state religions, as was then common in Europe. However, IMHO, our constitional prohibition against the establishment of a religion was never intended to be used as a sword to prohibit public displays of any religion. Yet that is what it has become.

Anyway, back to the thread. Mine has to be White Christmas, only becasue every time I hear that song, I can still he my Dad going through the house whistling the tune as we put up the decorations and things. I still play it when decorating my house each year.

Subject: RE: Favourite Christmas songs (non-religious
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 09:43 AM

Not to worry, Mrs Duck. It's a regional thing. Local control is very big over here.
At my school I am the self-proclaimed "Culture Vulture". I see it as my duty to show the kiddies alternatives to the commercial tripe they're fed on tv and radio. So we learn about, talk about, but don't "celebrate" just about every holiday from every culture I can find. Yesterday we sang "Here we come a-wassailing'" tomorrow it's a couple of Chanukah songs, next week we'll touch on Kwaanza. And then I give them little hand-made song-books and let them choose, for a week of singalongs.It spans the range from the Huron Carol & Silent Night to My Dreydl & Maoz Tzur (sp?) to the Twelve Days of Christmas to Rudolph and Frosty and Silver Bells and the Old Year Now Away is Fled... and much more!
My goal is for them to see the main thread of gathering together to celebrate, whatever your background. In our hemisphere at this time of year it's getting really dark for much of the day, and we need to shed a little light in our lives. Music can do that. If they learn nothing else from me, I hope they keep that knowledge.

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

Animaterra, what's Kwaanza???

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 - 01:02 PM

Thanks!!

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: 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: 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 - 06:18 PM

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

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....