There's One, Only!

Christmas Carols

Everybody has one of these around this time of year. (At least everyone with a blog, that is.) A list of their favorite Christmas Carols.

I’m not going to do a full top ten list. I really have just a few real favorites, and the rest all kind of lump together.

The two I love the most are Do You Hear What I Hear? and Oh, Holy Night

I can sing those two over and over for hours by myself at work.

My favorite Christmas recording has to be the duet between Bing Crosby and David Bowie, singing Little Drummer Boy. I'm not entirely certain, but I believe that it is one of the last recordings that Bing ever made.

Sorry that I don’t have the ability to link to that recording, but in the extended entry, I do have the lyrics to the first two songs. Just in case you wanted to sing them to yourself…

Do You Hear What I hear?

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

Oh Holy Night

Oh holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear'd and the soul 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
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend.

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Words by Chappeau de Roquemaure
Translated by John S. Dwight

Posted by GEBIV at December 6, 2004 10:34 PM