'Tis the season

At the risk of offending the sensibilities of Anglicans and any others who wait until the actual 12 days of Christmas to break out the carols, I happen to love Christmas music, so December 7 doesn't seem too early for me. (Yeah, OK, I'm sappy like that.) We'll get back to the alphabet game next month.

"Fairytale of New York," The Pogues
"Happy Christmas (War Is Over)," John Lennon
"Peace at Last," Hem
"2000 Miles," The Pretenders
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Sarah McLachlan
"Blue Christmas," Bright Eyes
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Jack Johnson
"Please Come Home for Christmas," Jon Bon Jovi
"'Round Christmas Time," Ticklepenny Corner
"Angels We Have Heard on High," Carolyn Arends/Stephen Murray/Jenny Gullen

At least half of those songs are about second chances, about getting by with Plan B now that Plan A has been shot all to Hell. That's appropriate since, after all, that's the whole point.

Recipe for a Christmas song: one part regret/sorrow, one part slender hope, add a dash of cold weather. (Since we're not playing the alphabet game here, how about this: What are some of your favorite songs that follow that recipe?)

Comments

[alphabitch]

My favorite Christmas album might be the unfortunately out-of-print "A Tapestry of Carols," by Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band.

But here's what I'm listening to this afternoon:

"Go Tell it on the Mountain" by the Blind Boys of Alabama and Tom Waits: just totally awesome; I'm pretty sure I downloaded it from iTunes, looks like it's a bonus track from something or other.

"Merry Christmas Mr. Jones" by the Nields, on Bob on the Ceiling. It's got regret, sorrow, hope, redemption, and a babe in a hospital manger.

"Jesus Christ" by Big Star, on 3rd/Sister Lovers. Sort of heartbreaking. Alex Chilton wrote it. The lyrics are plenty hopeful, but the song breaks my heart.

"Rudy" by the Be Good Tanyas, on A Winter's Night. Homeless guy, cold night, sorrow -- this song has 'em all.

"Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by Joseph Spence, on Must Be Santa! the Rounder Christmas Album. Mr. Spence offers his guitar stylings while singing, humming, mumbling, and groaning an approximation of the lyrics to this extremely annoying holiday song.

"Cry of a Tiny Babe" by Bruce Cockburn, live recording w/ Lou Reed, Roseanne Cash, & Rob Wasserman, from Columbia Records Radio Hour Vol. 1. There are other recordings; this is the one I happen to have.

"Rebel Jesus" is a song by Jackson Browne; I have one recording of him singing it with the Chieftans, and another from the McGarrigle Family Christmas Hour. Highly excellent tune; I think I like the McGarrigles version better of the two -- Martha Wainwright I think is singing lead.

And of course there's Loudon Wainwright's "Suddenly It's Christmas," from Career Moves. About how the retail eternity that is the holiday season goes on & on & on. "It's not over, til it's over, and you throw away the tree."

[Davis X. Machina]

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - This Time Of Year

[cjmr]

I seem to recall that one of the sides of one of their albums (Matching Tie and Handkerchief?) has two grooves.

Since that's which record they were discussing, I guess now I know my answer...

[Steven S.]

I admit to a soft spot for "Jack Frost and the Hoody Crow", by Jethro Tull, off (IIRC) their 25th Anniversary Collection. A bit of a nagging reminder. ;)

Through long december nights we talk in words of rain or snow
While you, through chattering teeth, reply and curse us as you go.
Why not spare a thought this day for those who have no flame
To warm their bones at christmas time?
Say jack frost and the hooded crow.

Now as the last broad oak leaf falls, we beg: consider this ---
Theres some who have no coin to save for turkey, wine or gifts.
No childrens laughter round the fire, no family left to know.
So lend a warm and a helping hand ---
Say jack frost and the hooded crow.

As holly pricks and ivy clings,
Your fate is none too clear.
The lord may find you wanting, let your good fortune disappear.
All homely comforts blown away and all thats left to show
Is to share your joy at christmas time
With jack frost and the hooded crow.

[patter]

It wouldn't be Christmas without Grandma.

[Kevin]

I love Christmas music. Some that meet Fred's requirements:

Rudy -- The Be Good Tanyas
St. Stephens Day Murders -- Elvis Costello
I Believe in Father Christmas
Father Christmas -- Kinks
X'mas Time --- Might Might Bosstones
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -- any of the melancholy versions, though the Pretenders did a good one.
Christmas Cake -- cannot remember who now, but this is ot particularly hopeful.

[Brian Jacobs]

Speaking as an Anglican, I love Christmas carols and have been singing them since last Sunday (the first of Advent.)

I just don't want them in my LITURGY until the 25th.

On a related note, is there a better single line from a carol than Isaac Watt's "Joy to the World! The Lord is come!" That's pretty much it right there.

I also love "Glorious now, behold him arise, King and God and Sacrifice" from We Three Kings. I guess that's two lines though.

[Tonio]

I seem to recall that one of the sides of one of their albums (Matching Tie and Handkerchief?) has two grooves.

Yes, the original UK edition of the LP was cut that way. The American edition that I have was cut the standard way.

[Jon]

All I've got in terms of "Christmas" music is "Red Water (Christmas Mourning)" - Type O Negative. It doesn't really follow Fred's recipe, though. It's pretty much all sorrow, no hope.
(Best line: The stockings are hung, but who cares?)

[JessicaR]

It's a lesser known carol, but I think On The Way to Bethlehem is lovely, and here is a lovely version of it

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fyE-GDof-Gw

[Brandi]

If you like Peter Murphy and/or Tom Waits, Porn Orchard's "This Holiday Season" will make you giggle like a Japanese schoolgirl. (It sometimes shows up miscredited to Murphy and Waits and mistitled "Christmas Sucks.")

[Mnemosyne]

"Baby It's Cold Outside" if the above mentioned slender hope can be an erotic one. I particularly like the rendition done by Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel for the movie, "Elf".

I like the version that Garrison Keillor and Kasey Jones sang on "A Prairie Home Companion" a few years ago, because they reversed the roles. Keillor sang the "woman's" role and Jones sang the "man's" role. I'd love to hear more role-reversed versions, because they really point out how old-fashioned the song is (and remove some of the creepy slipping-the-girl-a-roofie undertones).

[Mnemosyne]

Here it is, about 4 minutes into Segment One.

[Mnemosyne]

Here it is, about 4 minutes into Segment One.

[Mnemosyne]

Why does Typepad think I'm spam?

Here it is, about 4 minutes into Segment One.

http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2004/01/10/index.shtml

[cminus]

I'll second the recommendation for "Merry Christmas, Mr. Jones," which comes close to filling Fred's requirements, and for "Christmas Wrapping" and the Kinks' "Father Christmas," which don't but are worth recommending anyway. "Sometimes You Have To Work On Christmas" is good too, but I no longer have a copy. "Fairytale Of New York" is the best Christmas song ever, of course.

Other recommended Fred-type Christmas music from my collection: "I'll Be Home For Christmas," Aimee Mann, and "Christmas Time Is Here," Silent League.

Other recommended Non-Fred-type Christmas music from my collection: "Merry Xmas, Everybody," Slade.

Other ironically recommended but totally Non-Fred-type, don't say I didn't warn you, Christmas music from my collection: "The Twelve Days Of Christmas [Twin Peaks Remix]," The Cast Of Twin Peaks, "Fuckin' Up My Christmas," MC Chris, "Christmas With The Devil," Spinal Tap, "A Christmas Carol," Tom Lehrer, "Santa's Beard," They Might Be Giants, and "Christmas At Ground Zero" and "The Night Santa Went Crazy" by Weird Al Yankovic.

[cminus]

Recipe for a Christmas song: one part regret/sorrow, one part slender hope, add a dash of cold weather. (Since we're not playing the alphabet game here, how about this: What are some of your favorite songs that follow that recipe?)

It can be argued that "White Christmas" doesn't follow that recipe. It might get the first two, but it may fail the dash of cold weather. The usually ignored first verse makes it clear that the singer is dreaming of a White Christmas, which will not be forthcoming.

The sun is shining.
The grass is green.
The orange and palm trees sway.
There's never been such a day
In Beverly Hills, L.A.
But it's December the twenty-fourth,
And I'm longing to be up north.

Then again, most sources say this verse has not only been ignored but actively deleted, so maybe it's okay.

[Karen]

"Have Yourself a Merry, Little Christmas," Judy Garland version
"The Christmas Song," Nat 'King' Cole performance, (and I can't believe I'm the first person to mention that one.)
"I'll Be Home For Christmas," any version, which always makes me cry, since I associate it with soldiers thinking about home.
"White Christmas" Drifters with Clyde McPhatter version.

On the really old stuff, I agree with JessicaR that "On The Way to Bethlehem" (aka 'Shepherd's Pipe) is great. I also love "Jesus Christ the Apple Tree" (Cambridge Singers version, but most all are good) "Hail the Memorable Morn" and "The Holly and the Ivy." My favorite familar carol is "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," especially the later verses:

Still through the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world;
Above its sad and lowly plains,
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever over its Babel sounds
The blessèd angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
Beneath the angel strain have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, ye men of strife
And hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow,
Look now! for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing!

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophet-bards foretold,
When with the ever circling years
Comes round the age of gold;
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

That song exemplifies sadness and hope better than any other carol.

And althought it's not specifically a Christmas song, I love the Jo Stafford version of the old gospel song "Whispering Hope." It does have the melancholy hope bit, but nothing about bad weather.

[pat greene]

My favorites are "Elf's Lament" and a wonderful "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen/We Three Kings" mashup, both by the Barenaked Ladies (the latter also has Sarah Mclachlan) and "Fifty Kilowatt Tree" by The Bobs.

[Dylan]

Boze: Jars of Clay always has excellent Christmas music

Jars of Clay put out a Christmas album this year, which is kind of odd for a Christmas album because it's not really the stereotypical cheery Christmas album... but it's also good for that same reason. Have they done anything else?

I'll second "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings" by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan and "The Night Santa Went Crazy" and "Christmas at Ground Zero" by Weird Al.

Also, Steve Taylor did a mariachi version of "Winter Wonderland," which is great because it's such a bizarre combination.

[September Blue]

Recipe for a Christmas song: one part regret/sorrow, one part slender hope, add a dash of cold weather.

'Sixteen Maye Less', Iron & Wine/Calexico. Trust me.

[mike timonin]

Holly Cole does an awesome version of "The River". I, too, am a big fan of "I Believed in Father Christmas", and The Kinks "Father Christmas" as well. I have a perverse love of "Santa, Baby" - I like Eartha Kitt's original version, but Madonna does a pretty good version too.

This thread has produced a huge list that I'll have to start hunting for. None standard Christmas music is kind of a hobby for me...

[borealys]

Although I don't think it was originally intended as a Christmas song, I confess to really liking Sarah McLachlan's "Song for a Winter's Night," which, I think, fits the formula here. Also, one I think I brought up last year, Danny Michel's "Snowglobe" is a beautiful song.

And, although it doesn't come even close to the formula here, I have to recommend "Santa's Gonna Kick Your Ass" by the Arrogant Worms, a Canadian comedy band, from their album "Christmas Turkey." For those who like that Weird Al tune, anyway...

[Luke]

Joan Baez's "Noel" which has every minor-key, bittersweet cannonical song done up to the nines--or, rather, not pimped out, but done precisely the way they should be. So much is good on the album, including the rare "I Wonder as I wander." In particular, "Mary's Wandering," which is an elegiac, "Children of Men" gut-punch uplift about what happened to Mary after the pieta....

Elvis Costello's "St. Stephan's Day Murders" comes off The Chieftain's Christmas album, which is excellent across the board.

Individually, Tracy Chapman's cover of "Oh, Holy Night" is just so much better than anyone else doing it. Almost everyone else plays it too loud and victoriously (Cambridge and Vienna Boy's Choir) or is a damned gleeful moron (Sufjan Stevens should put down the yukalalee). Chapman's cover has the right measure of soulful grief, the slimest of hope, and the joy flowing over just at the end--socialist author's rhythm of social justice and liberation of slaves comes off wonderfully here.

Coldplay's "Fix You." Though I generally don't like Coldplay, and this isn't literally a holiday song, the song has the slimmest of reeds of redemption weaving through it "Lights will guide you home, and I will try to fix you."

Finally, in the hypothetical category...I'd like "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" covered by Emylou Harris, Regina Spektor, or Marriane Faithful. Or, rather, I'd like to marry Faithful's world-weary tone to Spektor's not-as destroyed voice, or something. Because the Jessica Simpson and Amy Grant versions are flat out obnoxious tedium.

[Mabus]

I'm a real fan of Weird Al's Christmas tunes...

But this year, I think my favorite Christmas song is Nickelback's "Rock Star". (Last year, when I wasn't around, it was "Beverly Hills". I mean, we all know what the real spirit of Christmas is, right?

[cathy]

I like 'O Holy Night'. The phrase 'He appeared, and the soul felt its worth' is what I would want from a religious experience if I am ever fortunate enough to have one. I like 'Suo Gan' (John McDermott). My favorite album is Mahalia Jackson's because it just seem right.

[Luke]

Cathy,

That's more or less what gets me about the song. In the Chapman cover, contrasting Sufjan Stevens, she starts out sounding miserably alone, and then shifts gears on that line to what I imagine is a wondering awe, and when she next comes back to "fall on your knees" she genuinely sells her sense of being dwarfed by the majesty. And it's /good/

[coffeedryad]

Let me be another voice for Fairytale of New York! Most of the Christmas and winter songs my family sings don't quite fit the pattern described, but some of them I suppose do... "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day", maybe. Other than that... we sing quite a bit of early American music, like William Billings's "Shiloh" and "Judea", and Jeremiah Ingalls's "Northfield".

Other favorites of mine are Praetorius's "Psallite" and a - Basque, I think - carol called "The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came". I also love wassail and wren-hunting songs - Steeleye Span have done some lovely performances of things like the "Gower Wassail" and "The King".

[Lucia]

Christmas in the Trenches
In the Bleak Midwinter
The Cherry Tree Carol

and all the old favorites. Also Deck the Halls, although it's not a Christmas song.

[cjmr]

I'm a real fan of Weird Al's Christmas tunes...

So's husband.

[chmood]

After a dozen years in retail (in a record store, no less) I had all the Christmas music squeezed out of me: even today, more than 20 years later, I can't listen to most of it...and the more common ia tune is/was, the less bearable it is. Sad, really, as the music was one of the really great holiday features.

[Cat]

This Pagan starts the carols December 1st. At 12:00 AM sharp, where possible.

"Carol of the Bells" is probably my favourite--virtually any version. My all-time favourite, though, is the Mannheim Steamroller one: it's like Father Christmas' battle cry.

Anything involving wassailing is quite lovely as well.

I really enjoy Kitaro's version of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," which for the longest time I thought was one of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. And that Troika-Kije thingee deeply rocks as well.

For sheer silly fun, I find nothing beats Bob Rivers' "It's the Most Fattening Time of the Year" and "Buttcracker Suite."

And albumwise, I really love Jon Anderson's Three Ships. The first side is a masterpiece of track arrangement, to boot. I thought his version of "O Holy Night" was a bit of a disappointment--cheesy eighties keyboards laid too thickly on what would have been an exquisite a cappella piece--but "How it Hits You" pretty much encapsulates how I feel about the holiday season.