'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas

Subject: RE: Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 09:59 AM

Scrump - I said specificaly it does mention Christmas but isn't about it (It isn't about Christmas that is). And that is the second time I have said that. Can I offer you the same advice as you offered me - but perhaps more sensibly:-) Ie You must watch these points, as Jordan said... etc etc.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Scrump
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 10:05 AM

Oops! Sorry DtG - I must've misread your post. (Not sure your advice to me is any more sensible though?! It looks pretty damn similar to me!)

Subject: RE: Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 10:53 AM

'twas indeed no more sensible, Scrump. All the more reason to say it;-) Thanks for the apology anyway - Much better than we usualy get around here. Probably far better than I deserve...

:D (tG)

Subject: RE: Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 11:34 AM

Over The River And Through The Woods (to Grandmother's house we'll go)

Subject: RE: Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Scrump
Date: 22 Dec 06 - 11:37 AM

Watch out for the reindeer! :-)

Subject: RE: Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Genie
Date: 23 Dec 06 - 02:33 AM

I just saw a compilation "Christmas Music" CD today that included "When You Wish Upon A Star."   
I believe I've also seen "What A Wonderful World" included on Christmas playlists.

Subject: RE: Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Genie
Date: 23 Dec 06 - 02:38 AM

Jim mentioned "Over The River And Through The Woods (to Grandmother's house we'll go).

That song is actually -- explicitly -- a Thanksgiving Day song.   Not only does it mention pumpkin pie, but the last verse specifically says "Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!"

Of course, if you just sing the verses that don't mention Thanksgiving, it can pass for a Christmas song.

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Dec 11 - 12:11 PM

"Fairytale Of New York" by the Pogues
"River" by Joni Mitchell
"2000 Miles" by The Pretenders

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: JHW
Date: 21 Dec 11 - 03:05 PM

'Go, Move, Shift' keeps you waiting several verses before giving the game away but still doesn't mention the word Christmas

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: fat B****rd
Date: 21 Dec 11 - 03:13 PM

Fairytale of New York starts out with 'Christams Eve in the drunk tank'
Have a pedantic Christmas.

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Genie
Date: 21 Dec 11 - 03:24 PM

Some people call "Let There Be Peace On Earth" a Christmas song, but it has nothing specifically to do with Christmas.

"Lord Of The Dance" has a verse/line about Jesus's birth (in Bethlehem), and some people do this song at Christmas, but it's really about the whole life of Jesus.

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: GUEST,Don Wise
Date: 22 Dec 11 - 04:46 AM

"King Herod and the Cock"
"Shepherds arise"
"The Cherry Tree Carol"
"King Pharim"

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Dec 11 - 04:50 AM

What's wrong with Christmas, why not mention it - if that's what your song is about?

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Mo the caller
Date: 22 Dec 11 - 10:10 AM

It really annoys me, both as an Atheist (now) and an ex-evangelical-Christian when religious songs are played as background music for this Festival of Greed and Shopping. Either they mean something or not.
In particular (not religious but singularly inappropriate) I heard the same song as background to a Christmas Dinner and a trip round Tescos - "Feed the World"

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Dec 11 - 10:19 AM

Shouldn't feel so bad about it Mo, or feel it so deeply. I remember the first Christmas morning I worked as a teacher. I wept thinking of the poor children that I taught, and the deprivation that was their lot. None of the kids were any better off for my tears, or were any nicer to teach as I remember.

All we can do (pagan or Christian) to make the holiday special is to be nice to those close to us. And perhaps (if we can afford it) give a little to charity.

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Mo the caller
Date: 22 Dec 11 - 10:31 AM

I don't 'feel bad about it' but I hate to hear it trivialised and used.

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler (Well-known pedant)
Date: 22 Dec 11 - 03:46 PM

We Three Kings has nothing to do with Christmas, it's an Epiphany "Carol".

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Young Buchan
Date: 22 Dec 11 - 06:52 PM

I think it was Gordon Ridgewell who used to 'reconstruct' the carols into what he thought was their original pagan form, before the Church got hold of them and started putting God into them. To be honest, they weren't awfully convincing. But all power to his elbow - I hate the way that Christians have spoiled Christmas by trying to drag religion into it.

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Genie
Date: 22 Dec 11 - 09:46 PM

Jim, there's a reason why "Over The River And Through The Woods" doesn't mention Christmas (or Santa, etc.). If you look at the lyrics you'll see that the song is actually about Thanksgiving Day, not Christmas. you'll see that the song is actually about Thanksgiving Day, not Christmas.
At least that's true of all the versions I've seen.



Big Al Whittle, you asked "What's wrong with Christmas, why not mention it - if that's what your song is about?"

Well, because sometimes the word "Christmas" doesn't fit with the rhyme scheme, the meter of the lyrics or even the story.   (E.g., if your song is about the night Jesus was born, there was no such thing as "Christmas" at that time.) "O Holy Night" doesn't mention the word "Christmas," nor do most of the most familiar Christmas carols.

Subject: RE: 'Christmas' Songs that don't mention Christmas
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 23 Dec 11 - 02:31 AM

" Santa Claus is Coming to Town "
AD