Favorite "Song of the Season"?

[ponycar17]

Originally Posted by doug66

"Robert Earl Keene's "Merry Christmas from the family" reminds me of my ex-inlaws, but still my favorite.

Doug, familiarity with folks that fit the song is why I chose it too... My step-brother's wife's family is pretty close to the song, and everyone admits it.

Her dad has a hard time not mooning people after a few hours of flowing Cuervo on Christmas Eve... Needless to say, we don't stick around long enough for that.

[mrkirker]

Yes, that's a good one. Robert Earl: Soul of a poet, voice like a cement-mixer!

[Marlin]

I would have to list three - - -

The Christmas portion of the Messiah including the Hallelujah Chorus
Lo, How a Rose Ere Blooming
O Holy Night - We have a good friend who sings a very nice version at church.

[dcd_enterprises]

I favor very little by Garth Brooks, but one of not so big hits I just love. "Bellau Wood"

"Belleau Wood"

Oh, the snowflakes fell in silence
Over Belleau Wood that night
For a Christmas truce had been declared
By both sides of the fight
As we lay there in our trenches
The silence broke in two
By a German soldier singing
A song that we all knew

Though I did not know the language
The song was "Silent Night"

Then I heard my buddy whisper,
"All is calm and all is bright"
Then the fear and doubt surrounded me
'Cause I'd die if I was wrong
But I stood up in my trench
And I began to sing along

Then across the frozen battlefield
Another's voice joined in
Until one by one each man became
A singer of the hymn

Then I thought that I was dreaming
For right there in my sight
Stood the German soldier
'Neath the falling flakes of white
And he raised his hand and smiled at me
As if he seemed to say
Here's hoping we both live
To see us find a better way

Then the devil's clock struck midnight
And the skies lit up again
And the battlefield where heaven stood
Was blown to hell again

But for just one fleeting moment
The answer seemed so clear
Heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's just beyond the fear

No, heaven's not beyond the clouds
It's for us to find it here

[dcd_enterprises]

Mary's Boy Child
I love Sarah McLachlan in this version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Her voice in the solo is almost haunting.

[mrkirker]

dc,
Bellau Wood sounds as though it refers to the events related in the song Christmas in the Trenches.

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.

[Pistolenschutze]

Dcd, the best version of "Mary's Boy Child" I think I ever heard was the one done by Harry Belafonte many years ago. I think I still have it in my music collection.

[45nut]

My favorite Christmas Carol would have to be "O Holy Night" and my favorite version is Nat King Cole's rendition. So melodic and moving.

Silent Night is quite moving as well, and comes it a close second.

Classical - Handel's Messiah, Cannon in D, Beethoven's 9th with Choral

Childhood - Gene Autry's "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" album reinged supreme when I was a kid. I have it on tape now since my sister lost OUR original album in a divorce.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFtOQfuNZLA

Childhood - Linus & Lucy from "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio

http://http://www.last.fm/music/Vinc...Linus+and+Lucy


Comtempoary - "Merry Christmas from the family" and "Walking Around in Women's Underwear" "Mary Did Yoy Know"

O Holy Night

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Silent Night

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 Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

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

[jacksonco]

I Saw Santa Kissing Momma Under The Mistletoe

[artabr]

I just found these. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtQr8...eature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ-8j...eature=related


Art

[right winger]

Bing Crosby's White Christmas

[Lori Mick]

I just found this and never knew.....

So. Do you know the meaning inherent in the well-known carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas"?

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

Today, you'll find out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality that the children could remember.




1.The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ
2.Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
3.Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love
4The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
5The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament
6The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation
7.Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit
Prophesy
Serving
Teaching
Exhortation
Contribution
Leadership
Mercy
8.The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes
9.Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self Control
10..The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments
11.The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples
12.The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed

[artabr]

Thanks Lori, this is the first I've heard of this. Interesting story that makes sense.


Art