Christmas songs

Subject: Christmas songs
From: Kampervan
Date: 14 Nov 05 - 04:38 PM

Hi there

Help.    I'm looking for some good Christmas folk songs apart from the usual Gaudete/Here we come a wassailing/Holly and the Ivy etc.

Any suggestions gratefully received. And if there's a link to a music file that would be tremendous!!

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: mg
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 02:07 AM

I love the Christmas Rose and Jesu Bambino. Ones i really do not like are lo how a rose and oh come Emanual (advent). There is a really pretty latin one...maybe from a classical work like the Creation..Mariam et Joseph et Infantatum positum in precipio.   mg

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Paul Burke
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 04:31 AM

I'd go for A Virgin Most Pure

and The Coventry Carol

and if you're feeling really adventurous this one in Middle English (well, actually it's an Annunciation carol):
Edi be thu Hevenes Quene, number 8 in the list (tune here).

Subject: Lyr Add: FIRST CHRISTMAS (Stan Rogers)
From: bill\sables
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 04:58 AM

FIRST CHRISTMAS Stan Rogers

This day a year ago he was rolling in the snow
With a younger brother in his father's yard
Christmas break a time for touching home
The heart of all he'd known and leaving was so hard
Three thousand miles away now he's working Christmas day
Making double time for the minding of the store
Well he always said he'd make it on his own
He's spending Christmas eve alone
First Christmas away from home

She's standing by the train station panhandling for change
Four more hours buys a decent meal and room
Looks like the Sally Anne place after all in the crowded sleeping hall
That echo's like a tomb
But it's warm and clean and free and there's worse places to be
And at least it means no beatings from her dad
And if she cries because it's Christmas day she hopes that it won't show
First Christmas away from home

In the apartment stands a tree and it looks so small and bare not like it used to be
Golden angel on the top it's not that same old Christmas star you wanted for your own
First Christmas away from home

In the morning they have prayers then it's crafts and tea downstairs
And another meal back in his little room
Hoping maybe the boys will think of home before the day is gone
Well it's best they do it soon
When the old girl passed away fell apart more every day
Each had always kept the other pretty well
But the kids all said the nursing home was best
'Cos he couldn't live alone
First Christmas away from home

In the common room the've got the biggest tree
And it's huge and cold and lifeless not like it ought to be
And a little flashing Santa Claus on top it's not the same old silver star
You once made for your own
First Christmas away from home

Christmas in the Trenches John Macutchen

My name is Francis Tuliver I come from Liverpool
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school
To Belgium and to Flanders, Germany to here
I fought for king and country I loved dear
It was Christmas in the trenches, the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were chilled no Christmas songs were sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away

I was lying with my messmates on the cold and frozen ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
I said now listen up my lads, each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear
He's singing bloody well you know my sergeant said to me
Soon one by one each German voice joined in in harmony
The canons rested silent and the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought respite to the war

As soon as they were finished and a reverend pause was spent
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen sang up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was "Steely Nacht" that's Silent Night says I
And in two tongues one song filled up the sky
There's someone coming t'wards us our front line sentry cried
Our sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side
His truce flag like a Christmas star shone on the plains so bright
As he bravely walked unarmed into the night

Then one by one on either side walked into no-mans-land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met them hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare lit soccer match we gave them hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs of home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Saunders played his squeeze box and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men

Soon daylight was upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we both went back to settle down to war
But the thought that entered every heart who lived that Christmas night
Whose family have I fixed between my sights
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as Christmas songs were sung
The walls they'd built between us to exact the cause of war
Had been crumbled and were gone for evermore

My name is Francis Tuliver in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas gone since world war one I've learned my lesson well
That the ones that call the shots won't be amongst the dead and lame
And on both sides of the rifle we're the same.

Christman 1914 Mike Harding

Christmas Eve in 1914, stars were gleaming, gleaming bright
And all along the Western front guns were lying still and quiet
Men lay dozing in the trenches, in the cold and in the dark
As far away behind the lines a village dog began to bark
Some lay thinking of their families, some sang songs to others quiet
Playing brag and rolling fags to pass away the Christmas night

As we watched the German trenches, something moved in no man's land
Through the dark there came a soldier carrying a white flag in his hand
Then from both sides men came running, crossing into no man's land
Through the barbed wire, mud and shell-holes, shyly stood there shaking hands

Fritz he brought cigars and brandy, Tommy brought corned beef and fags
And as they stood there quietly talking, the moon shone down on no man's land
Then Christmas Day we all played football in the mud of no man's land
Tommy brought some Christmas pudding, Fritz brought out a German band

And when they beat us at the football we shared all our grub and drink
Then Fritz showed me a tattered photo of a brown-haired girl back in Berlin
For four days after no side fired, not one shot disturbed the night
For old Fritz and Tommy Atkins, they'd both lost their will to fight

So they withdrew us from the trenches, sent us back behind the lines
They brought fresh troops to take our places and told the guns, Prepare to fire
The next night in 1914, flak was beaming, beaming bright
The orders came, Prepare offensive! Over the top we go tonight

And men stood waiting in the trenches, gazed out across our football park
As all along the Western front the Christmas guns began to bark

Subject: Lyr Add: CHRISTMAS DAY 1915 (Cormac Macconnell)
From: Cromdubh
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 05:14 AM

A silent night, A Christmas in the trenches.
By Cormac Mac Connell.

In 1914 on Christmas Day,
on the western front the guns all died away,
And lying in the mud on bags of sand,
we heard a German sing from no-man's land.

He had a tenor voice, so clear and true,
The words were strange but every note we knew,
Ashoring or the living, dead and damned,
A German sang of peace from no-man's land.

Oh Silent night, no cannons roar,
A king of peace is born forever more,
All's calm, all's bright, All brothers hand and hand,
In 1914 in no-man's land.

They slowly left their trenches, we left ours,
Beneath tin hats the smiles bloomed like wild flowers,
With photos, ciggerattes and flasks of wine,
We built a soldiers truse on that front line,

Their singer was a lad of 21,
We begged another song before the dawn,
And sitting in the mud, blood and the fear,
He sang again the song all longed to hear,

Oh Silent night, no cannon's roar,
A king of peace is born forever more,
All's calm, All's bright, all brother's hand in hand,
Amidst smoke and rusty wire in no-man's.

and in the morning all the gun's roared in the rain,
And they killed us and we killed them again,
With baonet,bomb, bullet, gas and flame,
And neither them or us at all to blame,

There was heavy fighting throughout that day,
For one night's peace, we bloodily did pay,
At night they charged, we fought them hand to hand,
And I killed the boy who sang from no-man's land.

Oh silent night, no cannon roar,
A king of peace is born forever more,
All's calm, all's bright, all brothers hand in hand,
And that young soldier sings, and the sound of peace still rings,
While all the captains and all the kings build no-man's land,
Sleeping heavenly peace.


(lovely christmas song, recorded by Jerry lynch and Mickey MacConnell)

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Alio
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 05:22 AM

The one I really like is Si Khan's Season of Peace (powerful words)- I don't know how to do the link though!

Ali

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 11:29 AM

What instruments will you be playing? Dona nobis is lovely on harp.



I really like Golden Cradle too especially for two voices:


Sweet babe, a golden cradle holds thee
Soft thy mother's arms enfold thee
Fairest flowers are strewn before thee
Sweet birds warble o'er thee
So sleep, my babe, and dream away sorrow
Peace until you wake tomorrowI will guide thine infant slumbers
Angels watch thy number

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE MAGI (Michael P. Smith)
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 12:15 PM

From Michael Smith - of The Dutchman fame - from his Gift of the Magi songs:

The Magi - Michael P. Smith
                   C
   Well they don't have a lot of cash money.
                   F                G7             C
   They get by, by the skin of their teeth.
                  
   But the mistletoe is hanging in the doorway, honey,
                         D7                      G7
   And they're hanging out underneath.
       C
   Outside the snow is drifting down,
       F          E       Am      C7
   Inside the fire is bright.
          F             G7       Em       Am
   It's Christmas Eve the world around,
             F       G7            C
   And they're alone tonight.
   ------------------------
Now (C)there's nothing to spare for a Christmas tree. Wouldn't (F) chop one (G7)if they (C)could.
But they walk in the air of the whispering pines
In the (D7)silence of the winter (G7)woods.
And they (C) follow the star, oh it seems so far;
Turns (F) North, the three (E) Kings would (Am)say.(C7)
They'd say (F)people who (G)see that (Em) Christmas
is (Am)love, They're (F)Magi (G7)in their (C)way.
         (chorus) ----------------
Well the (C) city bustles as cities have done,
These (F) hundreds of (G7) Christmas (C) eves
She says, "Listen, there's carolers in the alley, hon,
With (D7)sleigh bells on their (G7)sleeves."
Well, they (C)stand at the window as they watch the snow
And they (F) listen to the (E) sleigh bells (Am)ring (C7)
In the (F)wonderful (G)key of B (Em) minor or (Am)so,
The (F) carolers (G)sing, "We Three (C) Kings."
   (chorus) -------------------
Shall we (C)leave them to their own devices?
Shall we (F)steal away (G7)down the (C)street?
Thinking 'bout Kings and Christmas with no money,
And (D7)folks who won't accept (G7) defeat.
When (C)things get old and tattered,
It's the (F)love she (E) gives him that (Am) matters (C7)
Truth told, (F) it's the (G)love he (Em)gives to (Am)her
That's (F) gold, franken(G7)-cense and (C) myrrh
(after last chorus,   C                   G7       C
before last 2 lines) Joy to the world, the Lord is come

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 03:23 PM

If you want "Traditional" stuff there are a lot of Wassail songs which are not the one collected between Bradford and Leeds, although the tune for the same set of words, which is similar to God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen but with more bounce, is well worth singing.
Check out threads on the South Yorkshire Carols, there are links to a bunch of more obscure tunes and words. The South Yorks Carols include about 20 different tunes for While Shepherds Watched, some of which are belters.
You could also put "wassail" in the filter box at the top of the forum with a long search period. I tried the Lyrics and Knowledge search, but it didn't seem to be working when I tried.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Kampervan
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 04:31 PM

Thanks for all the ideas. I was originally thinking about more tradtional songs, but some of the ideas for the more modern 20th century carols are pretty good.

I'll cetainly take a look at the South York carols.

A very merry christmas to all of our readers and contributors.

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 04:41 PM

"Jesus Was a Carpenter" by Ewan MacColl

Been meaning to learn "In the Bleak Mid-winter" for ages. Also, this year!, ALL the verses to "Good King Wenceslaus" -- cittern with sound smashing with it.

Ah, and maybe finally work out the accompaniment (and cut down number of verses) to "In Praise of Christmas".

My all time favorite,though, is "Cherry Tree Carol" -- "And Mary gathered cherries while Joseph stood around."

Linn

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 04:48 PM

If you want something humerous for a change try to find the Kipper family carols, such as "Arrest these Merry Gentlemen", etc.

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: GUEST,Vic at work
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 06:02 AM

Try The Ditchling Carol and Herod and the Cock.
I think both are in theDT.
Vic

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 06:26 AM

Look out for the Huron carol as well, it's a beautiful piece of work.

LTS

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 07:23 AM

I got interested in printing out the Huron carol again, many versions can be found in the Huron Carol thread that I refreshed.

LTS

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: GUEST,Pavane
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 07:45 AM

I particularly like "(Please to see) The King", where it says

"Old Christmas is past, 12th tide is the last. We bid you adieu",

so we have got it all over and done with.

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: lynsheret
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 10:49 AM

Reba McEntire sings "Mary, did you know?" and it is a beautiful haunting song that i just love and would do well for many. have a listen if you can. LS

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: GUEST,Dazbo
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 11:20 AM

How about the Sussex carol? I don't think it's been mentioned yet but is a cracking tune in 6/8 with the occassional 9/8.

The are some really good South Yorkshire carols as has been stated above some with the "proper" words but different tunes but also "local" carols such as Hail Smiling Morn which isn't Christmassy at all but is always sung at Christmas.

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Lancashire Lad
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 01:25 PM

You could be interested in Puzzlejug album - Let us be merry. Which has sesonal folk songs and carols from the South West of England.

Link and samples here

Cheers
LL

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Genie
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 03:34 PM

lynsheret, I recommend "Mary, Did You Know?" too. It's contemporary (about 25 years old) but has a very traditional sound. It's been recorded by at least 30 different artists, including Kathy Mattea, Clay Aiken (my two favorite recordings), Kenny Rogers and Wynonna (duet), Reba, Mark Lowry (one of the song's co-authors), and (I believe) Michael W. Smith.

Other traditional and/or "folky" Christmas songs include:
A La Nanita (Spanish)
Virgin Mary (sung by Carolyn Hester or by Joan Baez)
Still, Still, Still (German carol translated beautifully into English)
The Carol Of The Birds
Mary Had A Baby
Follow Now, O Shepherds (great version by Kingston Trio)
Noël Nouvelet (Sing We Now Of Christmas)
The Hills Are Bare At Bethlehem
Riu Riu Chiu (Medieval Latin carol)

For a wonderful NEW Christmas song with a Celtic flavor, check out Jackson Browne's "The Rebel Jesus" (backed by The Chieftains' bagpipes). It's on The Bells Of Dublin album.

You can get many of these songs easily at iTunes (and usually you can hear a clip before deciding whether to purchase).

Genie


PS,
A number of Mudcatters have also written Christmas and/or Solstice songs which you can find in the Mudcat Songbook (some with MIDI too).

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Grab
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 06:01 PM

Artisan have 2 or 3 Christmas albums. Anything written by Brian Bedford is worth singing.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Christmas songs
From: Genie
Date: 05 Dec 06 - 05:17 PM

A bluegrass Christmas song I had not heard till last Dec. is "Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem." I really like it.