tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post8851924404135127522..comments2023-10-31T05:03:38.910-07:00Comments on Letters from a broad...: Festive Carols for a Merry (secular) Christmas and other Happy Holidays!!!C. L. Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12698855413639518095noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-83892962782743267922008-12-15T05:24:00.000-08:002008-12-15T05:24:00.000-08:00Right, and my point is that not every song on my l...Right, and my point is that not every song on my list here is secular, but that one big reason why this song is interesting is because it was used as part of a secular tradition (luck-visit, a.k.a. wassailing), which dates back to the pre-Christian origins of this pagan festival -- even if this particular song isn't pre-Christian, and even if that traditional use isn't obvious (to modern ears) from the lyrics.C. L. Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698855413639518095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-55652344685188451652008-12-15T04:38:00.000-08:002008-12-15T04:38:00.000-08:00I just copied-and-pasted it. Perhaps "astoundingl...I just copied-and-pasted it. Perhaps "astoundingly" might be immeasurably vague, as far as adverbial qualification goes. But my point is that it ain't a secular song, even a little bit.<BR/><BR/>:PAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-86818559071101416822008-12-14T21:18:00.000-08:002008-12-14T21:18:00.000-08:00Hey Kullervo!!!How does one measure whether a song...Hey Kullervo!!!<BR/><BR/>How does one measure whether a song "astoundingly" religious, as opposed to some ordinary level of religiosity? As I said above, I'm willing to include some Christian songs in my list since the birth of Jesus is one of the most important stories that has become associated with this holiday, as long as the song is interesting -- and this one has an interesting tune and an interesting history.<BR/><BR/>And thanks for typing out the lyrics for me -- I get more google hits that way. Any others you'd like to transcribe? ;^)C. L. Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698855413639518095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-87167474731373943782008-12-14T19:37:00.000-08:002008-12-14T19:37:00.000-08:00God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is... astoundingly re...God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen is... <I>astoundingly</I> religious. These are the lyrics:<BR/><BR/><B>God rest you merry, gentlemen,<BR/>Let nothing you dismay,<BR/>For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,<BR/>Was born upon this day<BR/>To save us all from Satan's power<BR/>When we were gone astray.<BR/>Refrain:<BR/>O tidings of comfort and joy,<BR/>comfort and joy;<BR/>O tidings of comfort and joy!<BR/><BR/>In Bethlehem in Jewry<BR/>This blessed Babe was born,<BR/>And laid within a manger<BR/>Upon this blessed morn;<BR/>The which his mother Mary<BR/>Nothing did take in scorn. Refrain<BR/><BR/>From God our heavenly Father<BR/>A blessed angel came,<BR/>And unto certain shepherds<BR/>Brought tidings of the same,<BR/>How that in Bethlehem was born<BR/>The Son of God by name. Refrain<BR/><BR/>'Fear not,' then said the angel,<BR/>'Let nothing you affright;<BR/>This day is born a Saviour<BR/>Of virtue, power and might,<BR/>So frequently to vanquish all<BR/>The friends of Satan quite.' Refrain<BR/><BR/>The shepherds at these tidings<BR/>Rejoiced much in mind,<BR/>And left their flocks a-feeding<BR/>In tempest, storm and wind,<BR/>And went to Bethlehem straightway<BR/>This blessed Babe to find. Refrain<BR/><BR/>But when to Bethlehem they came,<BR/>Whereat this Infant lay,<BR/>They found him in a manger<BR/>Where oxen fed on hay;<BR/>His mother Mary, kneeling,<BR/>Unto the Lord did pray. Refrain<BR/><BR/>Now to the Lord sing praises,<BR/>All you within this place,<BR/>And with true love and brotherhood<BR/>Each other now embrace.<BR/>The holy tide of Christmas<BR/>All others doth efface. Refrain</B><BR/><BR/>It's not really about wassailing and stuff; it's just pretty much about Jesus, other than the first line and the last verse, and still both of those reference God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-81812546367660301382008-01-02T06:53:00.000-08:002008-01-02T06:53:00.000-08:00Hey Slut!!!Sounds great!!! I like to listen to Ch...Hey Slut!!!<BR/><BR/>Sounds great!!! I like to listen to Christmas music of a variety of different styles, and swing is definitely among them.C. L. Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698855413639518095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-28993820876097094132007-12-30T10:42:00.000-08:002007-12-30T10:42:00.000-08:00My favorite Christmas album is "Yule B Swingin'" w...My favorite Christmas album is "Yule B Swingin'" which is, unsurprisingly, old swing music. Fun stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-36693543956955209132007-12-18T01:48:00.000-08:002007-12-18T01:48:00.000-08:00Hey King Aardvark!!!Thanks for the link -- I love ...Hey King Aardvark!!!<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the link -- I love that song, and I'd heard about the original lyrics. I'm glad Judy Garland requested the change. ;^) I have her version on my playlist, and I love it.<BR/><BR/>The story of the line change with "hang a shining start upon the highest bough" was also interesting. I like both versions, and I agree with what some in the article said about how you can choose one version of that line or the other depending on the type of melancholy you're shooting for. I also agree that the song deserves its popularity because it really captures the sad-yet-hopeful mood of Christmas: remembering the past while celebrating the present.C. L. Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698855413639518095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-14864341230598187112007-12-17T09:45:00.000-08:002007-12-17T09:45:00.000-08:00Hey, great list. I too love Have Yourself a Merry...Hey, great list. I too love Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. It's warm, yet sentimental and melancholy. Have you ever heard <A HREF="http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1569872,00.html" REL="nofollow">the original lyrics</A>? It's comical how over-the-top depressing some lines are.<BR/><BR/>It's hard to get good Christmas music these days. I don't know why but most radio stations these days play mostly tuneless new crap or really horrible "updated" versions of old classics arranged by John Tesh. Makes me sick to my stomach.King Aardvarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02785457928646226831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-948881810183124372007-12-16T09:40:00.000-08:002007-12-16T09:40:00.000-08:00Hey Holly!!!I'm with you on this one!!! It's like...Hey Holly!!!<BR/><BR/>I'm with you on this one!!! It's like I was saying about the song "It's Christmastime and Time for a Carol..." ;^)C. L. Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698855413639518095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-597404999815202762007-12-16T09:34:00.000-08:002007-12-16T09:34:00.000-08:00My favorite "carols" or "winter songs" always ment...My favorite "carols" or "winter songs" always mention me. I agree that everyone should "have a Holly Jolly Christmas" and at my house at least, it's sure as hell true that "the holly bears the crown."Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16506658008234465418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-44938159601235601752007-12-14T07:09:00.000-08:002007-12-14T07:09:00.000-08:00Hey Rich!!!Exactly!!! As I said above, there are ...Hey Rich!!!<BR/><BR/>Exactly!!! As I said above, there are even some popular carols where he makes use of this info... ;^)C. L. Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698855413639518095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-30212777371570279422007-12-14T07:05:00.000-08:002007-12-14T07:05:00.000-08:00Speaking of His Jolliness...Q: Why is Santa so jol...Speaking of His Jolliness...<BR/><BR/>Q: Why is Santa so jolly?<BR/>A: He knows where all the naughty girls live!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-49212044724274164252007-12-14T04:37:00.000-08:002007-12-14T04:37:00.000-08:00Hey Urban Viking!!!Yeah, I love Fairy Tale of New ...Hey Urban Viking!!!<BR/><BR/>Yeah, I love <I>Fairy Tale of New York</I> -- it's on my list of faves. :D<BR/><BR/>I'm going to have to get a <I>South Park</I> disc and listen to it. I've heard the songs enough to know they're funny, but not enough to remember the details...C. L. Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698855413639518095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-81043325252014618922007-12-14T03:31:00.000-08:002007-12-14T03:31:00.000-08:00Nice list :-)Beat Dad beat me to Fairy Tale of New...Nice list :-)<BR/><BR/>Beat Dad beat me to Fairy Tale of New York - One of my absolute faves.<BR/><BR/>Cartman's Silent Night is hilarious as well. Have you heard his version of Kiss from a Rose?<BR/><BR/>I like christmas carols actually. Like Chaplain said, irrespective of the message a lot of them are really good songs.Urban Vikinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09542187749190057874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-71069728330951655332007-12-13T22:37:00.000-08:002007-12-13T22:37:00.000-08:00Hey Beat Dad!!!Yeah, truly a classic, isn't it? A...Hey Beat Dad!!!<BR/><BR/>Yeah, truly a classic, isn't it? And I don't know how I missed mentioning "Santa Baby" -- that one's on my playlist. I'll have to check out "Christmas on Acid"...<BR/><BR/>Hey Mr. Fob!!!<BR/><BR/>I'll have to listen to that. It's definitely the sort of song that would lend itself to being played differently, and I'd be curious to hear the result.<BR/><BR/>Hey Chaplain!!!<BR/><BR/>I see them that way too. Sort of. With songs like "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" or "O Little Town of Bethlehem" they remind me of childhood Christmas memories and nothing more. But for some of the sentimental ones, the words and music both mean something to me since the song is about Christmas memories with family, etc.C. L. Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698855413639518095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-32903395032684243882007-12-13T15:26:00.000-08:002007-12-13T15:26:00.000-08:00I like many of the songs on your list, even the re...I like many of the songs on your list, even the religious ones. I enjoy all of them as cultural artifacts and don't get caught up in their messages.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-39599807136283270962007-12-13T13:28:00.001-08:002007-12-13T13:28:00.001-08:00Celine Dion does a version of "Merry Xmas, War is ...Celine Dion does a version of "Merry Xmas, War is Over." Her version is nice, I think, but the touch of bitter irony I hear in Lennon's rendition is completely missing from hers. I don't think Celine Dion does irony.B.G. Christensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604354633985676126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-33708893249523542622007-12-13T13:28:00.000-08:002007-12-13T13:28:00.000-08:00I love Fairy Tale of New York,"It was Christmas e...I love Fairy Tale of New York,<BR/><BR/>"It was Christmas eve babe in the Drunk Tank" <BR/><BR/>and "You're a bum<BR/>You're a punk<BR/>You're an old slut on junk<BR/>Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed<BR/>You scumbag, you maggot<BR/>You cheap lousy faggot<BR/>Happy Christmas your arse<BR/>I pray God it's our last" <BR/>Classic.<BR/><BR/>Also, Santa Baby by Eartha is a fav at our house and "Christmas On Acid" by the Vestibules http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz6hOShTp4I<BR/><BR/>Your pics are great!beatdadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497471619358149692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-72286162854705265442007-12-13T11:33:00.000-08:002007-12-13T11:33:00.000-08:00LOL!!!I've joked that the reason I made my own Chr...LOL!!!<BR/><BR/>I've joked that the reason I made my own Christmas compilation C.D.'s was to avoid "Silent Night", "O Holy Night", and "Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer," but somehow I think I'd appreciate Cartman's version... ;^)C. L. Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698855413639518095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19053670.post-21036976106529420662007-12-13T11:30:00.000-08:002007-12-13T11:30:00.000-08:00I haven't been able to listen to "O Holy Night" fo...I haven't been able to listen to "O Holy Night" for years without thinking of Cartman's version (from South Park).Aerinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11142518259771067132noreply@blogger.com