Sing Me Noel!

[Rybka]

We've recently had a thread about poetry and lyrics. Now what I want to know is what are your favorite pieces of Holiday music. And since I asked I will start.

I like most Holiday music, from the "Hallelujah Chorus" to Silver Bells, but I have a special feeling for two songs, the first of which is "The Little Drummer Boy". But my "Little Drummer Boy" lives in the West Indies.

At a party one time in Antigua they played a 20 minute reggae dance-beat version by a group that I think was called "The Electric Steel-band Orchestra". You could not sit still to this one. Hell, you couldn't even stay seated. The rhythm of the standard version is catchy enough, but a couple of rum-nogs or a few Red Stripes, a pretty Jamaican girl, and a reggae beat makes for one fine Christmas song (and party)! - I have never been able to get a copy of this version of "The Little Drummer Boy".

My other special Christmas song is also of West Indies origin. I used to winter with the wonderful people of Antigua, and every year the church Choir of St. Stephen's church in Seatons, led by Father Hodge would make the rounds of the local homes singing carols, wishing good cheer, and collecting for the poor. When they came to our house I always requested that they sing this one. It too had a West Indian beat, not for dancing, but you sure knew what Christmas was about when you heard it. I have heard other versions of this carol but none as pure as that sung acapella by the St. Stephen's Choir with their descending bass line. - There never was any snow, and the tree had to be artificial, but I do miss my friends and their Christmas celebrations.



Glorious Kingdom

The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
The Virgin Mary had a baby boy
And they say that His name was Jesus.

Chorus: (blue = descending bass line)
(He come down) He come from the glory -
(He come down) He come from the glorious Kingdom.
(He come down) He come from the glory -
(He come down) He come from the glorious Kingdom.
Oh, yes, believers!
Oh, yes, believers!
Oh, yes, believe us! He come from the glorious Kingdom.

Was born in a town called Bethlehem.
Was born in a town called Bethlehem.
Was born in a town called Bethlehem.
And they say that His name was Jesus.

Chorus:

Was sent to us from Our Father above. (sung 3 times)
And they say that His name was Jesus.

Chorus:

The angels sang when the baby was born, (sung 3 times)
And proclaimed Him the Savoir Jesus.

Chorus:

The wise men saw where the baby was born, (sung 3 times)
And they saw that his name was Jesus.

Chorus:

The shepherds came where the baby was born, (sung 3 times)
and they say that his name is Jesus.

Chorus:

And unto us a blessed child is born (sung 3 times)
and they say that His name was Jesus.

Chorus:

And He will be the Savior of the world (sung 3 times)
and they say that His name was Jesus.

Chorus:

Happy Holidays to you all. Now please post your favorites and tell us why.

regards,                 Rybka

 

[Guest]

Hearing the boy soprano as the choir enters Kings College Cambridge when I was a child has made this a favourite carol.


Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.


Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.


I love this song. Of all the dross that's spewed at Christmas time this one holds up - preferably sung by Rosemary Clooney or Judy Garland.

Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas

from the film Meet Me In St. Louis
Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane 1943


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 the Yule-tide 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
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

 

[Cordelia]

This song was made popular by Harry Belafonte, but I first heard it by a men's a capella quartet, and have not heard a better version since.

Mary's Boy Child

Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said,
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.

Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.

While shepherds watch their flocks by night,
they see a bright new shining star,
they hear a choir sing a song, the music seemed to come from afar.

Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.

Oh a moment still worth was a glow, all the bells rang out
there were tears of joy and laughter, people shouted

'let everyone know, there is hope for all to find peace'.

Now Joseph and his wife, Mary, came to Bethlehem that night,
they found no place to bear her child, not a single room was in sight.

And then they found a little nook in a stable all forlorn,
and in a manger cold and dark, Mary's little boy was born.

Hark, now hear the angels sing, a king was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.

Oh a moment still worth was a glow, all the bells rang out
there were tears of joy and laughter, people shouted
'let everyone know, there is hope for all to find peace'

~~~~~~~~

 

[perks]

I was part of the stage crew for our Holiday festival, and we made this platform so this girl could stand on it in this kind of cloth drapery, with huge angel wings stretched out behind her. We lit her with a black light and the background was black, so she just looked like an angel hovering there, about 10 feet off the groung. The choir always sang...

Ave Maria

Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Maria, gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tuae, Jesus.
Ave Maria


Ave Maria
Mater Dei
Ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Ora pro nobis
Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus
Nunc et in hora mortis
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Et in hora mortis nostrae
Ave Maria

 

[Rybka]

Mary's Boy Child and Ave Maria

I love both of these too! The Seatons' choir also sang Mary's Boy Child and they had a lead soprano who could knock out an unbelievable Ave.

Regards, Rybka

 

[thunderf64]

My favs

Well my favorites come from two different places.

The first was when I was inhigh schoola nd sang in the chours. being a bass and a britone(depending on the number of kids) we used to preforme O Come O come Emanualle. I speaks of the hope and promise of the holiday. The true meaning of Christmas.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Refrain

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

Refrain

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

Refrain

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Refrain

The second was a song I heard by the Dave Mathews band. I catch myself singing it all the time. It covers the birth but also the death of Jesus. The song reminds me that Christmas promises the redmption of us all

Artist: Dave Mathews Band
Song Title: Christmas Song
Album: Remember Two Things(1993)
[Buy " Remember Two Things(1993) " CD]

She was his girl; he was her boyfriend
She be his wife; take him as her husband
A surprise on the way, any day, any day
One healthy little giggling dribbling baby boy
The wise men came three made their way
To shower him with love
While he lay in the hay
Shower him with love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around

Not very much of his childhood was known
Kept his mother Mary worried
Always out on his own
He met another Mary for a reasonable fee, less than
Reputable as known to be

His heart was full of love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around
When Jesus Christ was nailed to the his tree
Said "oh, Daddy-o I can see how it all soon will be
I came to shed a little light on this darkening scene
Instead I fear I spill the blood of my children all around"

The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around
So the story goes, so I'm told
The people he knew were
Less than golden hearted
Gamblers and robbers
Drinkers and jokers, all soul searchers
Like you and me

Rumors insisited he soon would be
For his deviations
Taken into custody by the authorities
Less informed than he.
Drinkers and jokers. all soul searchers
Searching for love love love
Love love love
Love love is all around

Preparations were made
For his celebration day
He said "eat this bread and think of it as me
Drink this wine and dream it will be
The blood of our children all around
The blood of our children all around"
The blood of our children all around

Father up above, why in all this anger have you fill
Me up with love
Fill me love love love
Love love love
Love love
And the blood of our children all around

 

[Angeline]

Oh Well

I tried. I ran through every Chanukah song I remembered (all three), and they ain't too memorable, so in spite of my attempted cultural fealty, I'll go with a Christmas song.

This is a sentimental favorite for me because my kids sang it (around age 6) at their respective school holiday concerts. It's a rousing gospel tune that can make you giggle with a tear in your eye when you see a bunch of shiny, dressed-up first-graders stomp their way through it.



CHILDREN, GO WHERE I SEND THEE
(Traditional)

Odetta - 1954
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - 1960



Children, go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee one by one
One for the little bitty baby
Wrapped in swaddling clothes
and laying in a manger
he was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.

How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee one by one
One for the little bitty baby
That was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.

Children, go where I send thee
How shall I send thee?
I'm gonna send thee two by two
Two for Paul and Silas
One for the little bitty baybe
That was born, born
Born in Bethlehem.

Three for the Hebrew children...

Four for the four that stood at the door...

Five for the gospel preachers...

Six for the six that never got fixed...

Seven for the seven that never got to heaven...

Eight for the eight that stood at the gate...

Nine for the nine all dressed so fine...

Ten for the ten commandments...

Eleven for the eleven deriders...

Twelve for the twelve Apostles...

 

[Angeline]

And a little jazz

is always nice. I like the way Mr. Joe Williams does this.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVE ?
(Frank Loesser)

Maybe it's much too early in the game
Aah, but I thought I'd ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
New Year's Eve

Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose
Out of a thousand invitations
You received

Aah, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?

 

[thunderf64]

Re: Oh Well

I tried. I ran through every Chanukah song I remembered (all three), and they ain't too memorable, so in spite of my attempted cultural fealty, I'll go with a Christmas song.

...

Angeline!

Your jewish!

*Running down the Mailman to get back the ham I sent you*

That is a beautiful song. Nice choice.

 

[Angeline]

And one my parents grew to hate

because my sister and I sang it endlessly when we were kids (yes we were Jewish, go figure...)


THE CHIPMUNK SONG (CHRISTMAS DON'T BE LATE)
(Bagdasarian)
David Seville & The Chipmunks - 1962


All right you Chipmunks! Ready to sing your song?
-I'll say we are!
-Yeah!
-Let's sing it now!
Okay, Simon?
-Okay!
Okay, Theodore?
-Okay!
Okay, Alvin? Alvin? ALVIN!
-OKAY!!!)

Christmas, Christmas time is near
Time for toys and time for cheer
We've been good, but we can't last
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast
Want a plane that loops the loop
Me, I want a hula hoop
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don't be late.

Okay fellas get ready.
That was very good, Simon.
-Naturally.
Very good Theodore.
-Ahhh.
Ah, Alvin, you were a little flat, watch it.
Ah, Alvin. Alvin. ALVIN!
-OKAY.)

Want a plane that loops the loop
I still want a hula hoop
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don't be late.
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don't be late.

Very good, boys
-Lets sing it again! Yeah, lets sing it again!
No, That's enough, lets not overdo it
-What do you mean overdo it?
-We want to sing it again!
Now wait a minute, boys
-Why can't we sing it again?
-[chipmunk chatter]
Alvin, cut that out..Theodore, just a minute.
Simon will you cut that out? Boys.....

 

[Angeline]

Angeline!

Your jewish!

*Running down the Mailman to get back the ham I sent you*

That is a beautiful song. Nice choice.

Gimme back the ham. I didn't say I was observant.

(and you're welcome)

 

[Icingsugar]

There is only one Christmas song that does anything for me, but that one puts me in the mood every time.

However, I don't think it has ever been translated to the heathen language written and understood on this board.

If you still want to hear what it sounds like (or one version, there was 3 different melodies written for it), I googled up this short excerpt:

http://www.nobe.ch/audio/mp3html/glansoversjo.html

 

[thunderf64]

Angeline

Gimme back the ham. I didn't say I was observant.

(and you're welcome)

My mother always said a lady only means half of what she says, so remember it all so you can figure it out *EG*

 

[eagleyez]

look

lights on the trees...

Let us be lovers we'll marry our fortunes together
I've got some real estate here in my bag
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner's pies
And we walked off to look for America
Cathy I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
Michigan seems like a dream to me now
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
I've gone to look for America
Laughing on the bus playing games with the faces
She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy
I said be careful his bowtie is really a camera
Toss me a cigaret I think there's one in the raincoat
We smoked the last one an hour ago
So I looked at the scenary she read her magazine
And the moon rose over an open field
Cathy I'm lost I said though I knew she was sleeping
I'm empty and aching and I don't know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike
They've all come to look for America
All come to look for America

 

[Angeline]

Boy, I was thinking earlier that Simon and Garfunkel feels like Christmas and Winter to me. You too, huh, ee?

This one especially---


@SONG: Scarborough Fair/Canticle (P. Simon/A. Garfunkel, 1966)

Are you going to Scarborough Fair:
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Remember me to one who lives there.
She once was a true love of mine.

On the side of a hill in the deep forest green.
Tracing of sparrow on snow-crested brown.
Blankets and bedclothes the child of the mountain
Sleeps unaware of the clarion call.

Tell her to make me a cambric shirt:
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
Without no seams nor needle work,
Then she'll be a true love of mine.

On the side of a hill a sprinkling of leaves.
Washes the grave with silvery tears.
A soldier cleans and polishes a gun.
Sleeps unaware of the clarion call.

Tell her to find me an acre of land:
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
Between the salt water and the sea strand,
Then she'll be a true love of mine.

War bellows blazing in scarlet battalions.
General order their soldiers to kill.
And to fight for a cause they've long ago forgotten.

Tell her to reap it with a sickle of leather:
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme;
And gather it all in a bunch of heather,
Then she'll be a true love of mine.

 

[OT]

Re: Oh Well

This is a sentimental favorite for me because my kids sang it (around age 6) at their respective school holiday concerts. It's a rousing gospel tune that can make you giggle with a tear in your eye when you see a bunch of shiny, dressed-up first-graders stomp their way through it.

Not that I would imply
that you are older than I

But I remember *me* stomping through that song.

thanks for the memory

 

[Angeline]

Not that I would imply
that you are older than I

But I remember *me* stomping through that song.

thanks for the memory

Now that's cute.

Did I mention I wish you holidays filled with grace?