WU da tat Wd, BA oa ie ddr i tat 5 fii i fay he Readers | erry (Phristmas Sendeboek Editor: William L. Simon Music arranged and edited by Dan Fox Editorial Associates: Mary Kelleher. Elizabeth Mead, Natalie Moreda ‘Art and Design: Karen Mastropietro Annotated by Dorothy Horstman and the Editors Me Reet THE READER'S DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC. Pleasantville, New York / Montreal Copyright © 1081 The Reader's Digest Assocition, Ine Copyright © 1081 The Reader's Digest Association (Canada) Led Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, i prohibited. Library of Congress Catalog Card Nomber 1.51285 ISBN G-895T7- 105. Reapnt’s Dicest and the Pegasus logo are registered ‘radematks of The Reader's Digest Association, Ine Printed io the United States of Americe Founeenth Printing, September 1995Music ‘Adeste Fideles (0 Come, All Ye Faithful) 24 All Hail to Thee - : 200 ‘Angels from the Realms of Glory 168. ‘Angels We Have Heard on High 30 ‘As Lately We Wstched 175 ‘AS with Gladness Men of Oid 183 ‘Auld Lang Syne 251 ‘Away in a Manger 28 Blue Christmas 54 Brezilian Sleigh Bells 242 Break Forth, © Beauteous, Heavenly Light 240 Being Torch, Jeannette, Isabella 186 Buon Natale (Merry Christmas to You) 202 Burgundian Carol 198 rol of the Bells 158 ‘Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire ‘The Chsisteaas Song) a1 Children, Go Where ISend Thee 210 Christians, Awake Salute te Happy Morn 172 CHRISTMAS 70 Christmas for Cowboys 62 ‘Chsistmas in Killacaey 48 Christmas Is... 64 Christmas Island, 80 Christmas Song, The (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) 41 ‘Coventry Carol, The 190 Deck the Halls... 13 First Noél, The aoe) For Thy Mercy and Thy Grace 250 Friendly Beasts, The 193 Frosty the Snow Man 99 Go TellIt on the Mountain 207 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen 8 Good Christian Men, Rejoice 178 Good King Wenceslas 32 ‘Hanover Winter Song 138 Happy Birthday, Jesus 118 Hark! the Herald Angels Sing 10 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 44 Hawaiian Christmas Song, The (Mele Kalikimaka) .. 188 Here Comes Santa Claus 9. Here We Come A-Caroling (The Wassail Song) 34 Hey, Ho, Nobody Home 194 Holly andthe Ivy, The «+ 174 Holly Jolly Christmas, A oars) Index to Sections OUR BEST-LOVED CAROLS POPULAR CHRISTMAS HITS FOR CHILDREN AT CHRISTMASTIME |. CHRISTMAS IS A WINTER FESTIVAL MODERN CAROLS FAVORITE CAROLS OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY CHRISTMAS ROUND THE WORLD CHRISTMAS FOLK SONGS AND SPIRITUALS CHRISTMAS CLASSICS AND INSTRUMENTAL FAVORITES RING OUT THE OLD! RING IN THE NEW YEAR! Index to Songs 38 82 11 150 162 184 206 219 246 Story Behind the Song, 188 12 162 162 246 38 219 219 184 134 184 150 39 206 162 38 38 38 38 38 39 184 246 185 2 206 162 121 82 39 185 2 185 163 82 Huron Christmas Carol. The (Twas in the Moon of Wintestime) 1 Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus 1Saw Three Ships [Wonder As I Wander Ti Be Home for Christmas ItCame Upon the Midnight Clear Its Beginning to Look Like Christmas Jing-A-Ling, Jing-A-Ling Jingle Bells ‘ingle-Bell Rock ‘Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mild ‘oy to the World Let It Snow! Let It Saow! Let Snow! Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot, The tle Drummer Boy. The (0, How a Rose E’er Blooming March of the Kings, March of the Toys Marshmallow World, A Mary’ Little Boy Child ‘Mele Kalikimaka (The Hawaiian Christmas Song) Merry Christmas Polka, The My Favorite Things {AIL Want for Christinas i) My Two Front Teeth Night Before Christmas Song, The Nutcracker Sweets Nuttin’ for Christmas ‘Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum) 2... O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) © Come, Little Children © Come, O Come Emmanuel O Holy Night Q Little Tawn of Bethlehem OSanctissima © Tannenbaum (0 Christmas Tree) Once in Royal David's City Out of the Fast ‘Over the River and Theaugh the Woods. Parade of the Wooden Soldiers Pat-A-Pan Peace Carol, The Ring Out, Wild Bells. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Fallow Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Santa Claus, Indiana, U.S.A. Santa Claus Ts Comin’ to Town ‘Silent Night Silver and Gold Skaters Waltz, The Sleep Wel, Litle Children Sleigh Ride Suzy Snowflake Sweet Little Jesus Boy Take Me Back to Toyland ‘That's What I Want for Christmas Toyland “Twasin the Moon of Wimertime (The Huron Christmas Carol) Twelve Days of Christmas, The Upon the Housetop Virgin's Slumber Song, The We Need a Little Christmas We Three Kings of Orient Are We Wish You a Merry Christmas What Are You Doing New Year's Eve What Child Is This? ‘When Santa Glaus Gets Your Letter While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night Will Santy Come to Shanty Town? Winter Masie 196 14 165 220 122 wm 206 Ez naman nm Po Te yuB-sk Tar Gently, Silent Right English words adapted from the original German of Joseph Mohr; Musie by Franz Gruber ar Guitar—~o Capo poe eas eR Piano— Bl = Tent night, i - lent night, ~ lent night, | ho — ly night, ho - ly night, ho - ly night, All is calm, all is bright. Shep-herds quake | at the sight. Son of God, _ |love's pure light; ) £9 5 (Q) Round yon Vir - @) Glo- ries stream_from (3) Ra-diant beams_from gin Moth-er and Child, heav-en a - far, Thy ho-ly face, Ho - ly In-fant so |ten-der and mild, Heav'n-ly hosts_sing| Al- le - lu - jas With the dawn_ of | re-deem-ing grace, = = > Fa () Sleep in heav-en-ly (2) Christ the Sav ~ior is (3) Je - sus, Lord, at Thy| Sleep in heav-en-ly Christ_ the Sav-ior is Je - sus, Lord, at Thy| | oe re r oprih 18 Aree Mane Pung r * aryGod Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen ‘Traditional TT Qj] rest ye mer - ry, Q) @) God our heav'n-ly | F. bles: noth -/ing you dis| may. Re- ~edan~ gel |came; And See So eae oS En En ()mem- ber, Christ our | Sav r ior was |born /on Christ-mas | Day To @un- to cer- tain] shep - \herds brought! tid/-ings of the same; Howit e 7/DF Ei D/FE Re ea o (save us all from} Sa-tan's pow'r when| we were gone a -| stray i o_— @that in Beth-le-[hem was born the [Son of God by | name. com-fort and D/Ft g. Br/De BTWords by Charles Wesley Music by Felix Mendelssohn Hark! , the Herald Angels Say Moderately &. 5 A, lf] Hark! the ner - ald | an - gels sing,___[ "Glo - 2] 3[ Hail the heav'n - born} Prince of Peace! a g AR FAG (1) new = born King! Peace on earth (@)Righ - teous ~ ness! Light and fe brings T Tf rT Tp 10 Copprih 18 Arde Mane Padang a(God and sii es full 6 @)Risn with i i i Mild He lays — His Pycrese. more may, Li "Christ is born in_|Beth - te - Ja| Born to——give them| sec - ond birth. T iT Hark, the her-ald | en - gels sing, "Glo- ry to _the| new-born King!" T t u*3= O Little Town of Bethlehem ‘Words by Phillips Brooks; Music by Lewis H. Redner Moderately F Fdim F Gm F a a a 3 = ogo r fir lit - tle town of /Beth-le- hem, How | still t- ti we see th Christ is born of | Mer ~ ‘s y, And|gath-er'd_ all a - ho- ly Child of |Beth-le-hem, De-|scend to__ us, we ——————— mp| pee jt Dr Gm cr fim Aan F f + £ = : oe 3 SS 4 t 7 e P ()bove thy deep and |dream-less sleep, The | si- lent_stars go (@) mor~tals sleep, the | an - gels keep ‘Their|watch of won-d'ring (3) out our sin and] en - ter im; Be |born to si to ~ D= car — up = or T ; = Ffdim Gm Gfdim Asus AT Dm (A. F_ Gm Asus4 wit GAH HR OHH # 2 —S : |? pry f : (1) in thy dark streets} shin - eth The ev - er - last -ing (2)morn-ing stars to -\ geth - er Pro-|claim the ho - ly (3)hear the Christ-mas |/an - gels, The |great glad tid - ings wy (es Be : SS SS et Tires ae = ae ae FB © C7 Fo a RR Re | ~ pe =the = a F =e i reana) mee ie ly (hopes and fears of all the years Are | met in thee to -|night. ; (2) prais- es sing to the King And |peace to ~ men on jearth. i (3) come to us, a -| bide with uP Our ae at ~ man - u-| el. = = + ae —— ; f = + ; 12 Copyciaht © 198 Ardi ted a DECK THE HALLS ae Aa (Old Welsh Air Brightly 7—) oq Pp Bm, PN Ae Bn PRR Deck the halls with|boughs of hol-ly,| Fa lala la la la| la la ia. See the blaz-ing| Yule be-fore us,| Faia la lala la| la la mf Bm Aq, Aye 7D. a a ee ae ‘Tis the sea-son | to be jol- ly, | Fala la lala la| la la a. Strike the harp and |join the cho-rus,|Fa la la lala la| la la la. = F ? r = efi Don we now our|gay ap-par-el, | Fa_ la, fa— la | Ia la la. Fol - low me in | mer- ry mea-sure,| Fa la, fa— la | la la la. t t T Ss Fa 5/ i 4 44 i ie a ? Troll the an-cient|Yule-tide car - ol, | Fala lala la la | la la ia. While I tell of |Yule-tide trea-sure,| Fala la la la la | la la la. re r u ene oe Adee Matic Phi 13We Three Kings f Orient A : 5 Words and Music by John Henry Hopkins 5 En, BL Em 7 a f ; aa 1. We three kings of | O- ri - ent 2. Born a |King on | Beth-le-hem’s 3.Frank - in -|cense to of - fer have PP 4.Myrrh is mine, its bit - ter per- 5. Glo - rious | now be -| hold Him a - ad. + —— 2 ee a a Br Em G D En za ci + tH — - + f + = == oe — pee oT I Tt fd + f P SSI 1 |@) Bear - ing | gifts we | tra~verse a-| far, Field and | foun - tain, 2 Gold 1 joring to |crown Him a-|gain, King for-| ev - er, (3) In ~ cense | owns a De - i - ty | nigh, IPray'r and | prais - ing, (@Breathes of | life of | gath- er - ing | gloom Sor-row-ing,| sigh - ing, ®) King and | God and| Sac ~- ri-| fice, Al - le-| lu - ia, 4d} 4 4] i Em > Fm = er - - ae x Se — - moun - tain, | Fol- low- ing yon - der star. nev - er, | O-ver us ali to. treign. rais ing, | Wor-ship Him, | God most | high. 0. dy - ing, |Sealed in the stone - cold | tomb. lu - ia, | Earth to |heav'n re -| plies a ¢ | \ SSS ge So f -ing, | still } D.C. for G additional wordsoe OG epapes Teg O Tannenbaum ‘Traditional V- a _ Moderately aa oO 1 = ©. |Christ-mas tree, thy |leaves are so un-|chang-ing. Tan - nen-baum, O | Tan - nen-baum, wie | treu sind dei - ne | Blat - ter. Christ-mas tree, O |Christ-mas tree, thy [leaves are so__un -|[chang-ing. (Instrumental to - - ~ 16 Coigh 19851 Arde Mase Pela. In mMm im mn - L t= ¢ DT a Fe 3 oo h 2 ‘ — — a ——s = — = 1 I on - iy green when) sum-mer's here, tis a Christ-mas Day you |stand so _ tall, to griinst nicht nur zur | Som - mer ~ zeit, - ter a +} | 4 td 4 E J —— eS x “*t ——F ae ! t ¥ : G D G7 7 z i He ARR = _ — . a = = : 2 =| id = = = = 1 a cold and drear. O Christ-mas tree, 0 Christ -mas tree, thy one and all. oO Christ-mas tree, oO Christ-mes tree, you a wenn es schneit, O Tan - nen-baum, oO Tan - nen-baum, wie z ah ol de} TF T tf Er at tthe a | | leaves are 50 un -|chang - ing. 2.0 fil all hearts with | gai - treu sind dei - ne ta lat bast $= yaa ga ae yee T r 1 eS (gai | + iar 1 ~ tat lat dat Mate LtIt Came Upon the Midnight Clear Words by Edmund Hamilton Sears Music by Richard Storrs Willis Moderately | 29 £ came up-on__ the | mid - night clear That} gio - rious song of through the clo - ven/skies they come With] peace - ful wings_ un- fof the days are| has-t'ning on, By | proph - ets seen of pt ty 4 2S é F. ie ie G7 Cc ee Cc FL Gt me Pe |. —} — J +- 53 +; = <— —— A : oa = = cori tt itt From| an-gels bend - ing |near the earth To |touch their harps_ of And | still their heav'n- ly mu-sic floats O'er} all the wea- ry i Mold, @ furl @ old,. When|with the ev - er-| cir-cling years Shall]come the time—fore- veling ye LAR bj 4} 4d J) = a a — ——— —— ——— = r te >.ah WIL 2 — - = ¥ 3 = z 7 "Peace | on. the earth,_ good -| will to men, From 3 A -|bove its sad and | low - ly plains, They = When | the new heav'n_ and fearth shall own The = ———s_| ac ne aS : ; a na — = Jj» =E. 7 = A roto () heav'ns_ all~ gra - cious} King.".____ The world in sol - emn A @bend_— on hov - ‘ring ev - er o'er. its (3) Prince. of Peace,_ their whole of world— send| = — - | rr = F GT ab a = » = +, as —— a | a () stili-ness lay To | hear the an - gels| = (@) Ba -belsounds The | bless - ed an - gels| = @®back the song Which] now the an - gels| = 4d 1 tif 4 2 2S Fr rr 19Jou To the o World ey Words by Isaac Watts; Music by Lowell Mason Majestically 2-4 z 5 tf -3|\4- 28 mmm msm mo om om om om om om om om om om om om om ™(1) room ,. (3) ness. ()heav'in and na = ture (@) won- ders of — HisQ)cold win - ter's (3) o'er the Chorus 23O Com Ml Ye Shetfid Adeste Fideles English words by Frederick Oakeley; Latin words attributed to 4-18 John Francis Wade; Music by John Reading T-Jp Broadly a) mm Joy - ful and tri- Lae = ti tri - um- m™ = 1 = Come and _be -|hold ———] Na - tum wi-lae - 24 Compih 181 Andes Man PeinBe emt dd) Lk} D aa sil born the King gels. 0 go me 2 ~~ chorus come, let Re - gem an ~ rum. Ve -|| ni - te 7 HH. f br et at 4 D Ga Di G fm Bm Ph Be Ae come, let us ni-te a Sf a -|dore - do-| re 2, Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation; Sing all ye citizens of heav'n above: Glory to God in the Highest. Chorus 3. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be glory giv'n; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Chorus 254. The Twelve Days of Christmas 4- 1% ‘Traditional + % SG Briskly F Dm7 Gm7 c7 FE a HH 1,0n the |first day true love sent to mp par - tridge_in a pear | | < Gm7 cr F cr F. Bb Fr cr fel LER xe FRR FL RY FRR > true love sent to me Two tur-tle doves and a | par - tri in a pear Dm? Gm7 cr Fr of Fe xc AOR A FFE $ | tree._3, On the|third day of Christ-mas, my|true love sent to me |Three French_hens, ee 7 f fe z 26 epyeh i) 1981 Ande Mane Pah Ie. (a fal Ll | fra eta tatFooctooF tur-tle doves and a | par - plage ip a pear Dm7 Gm7 cr Fr cr a fourth day of Christ- mas, my | true love sent to me Four call- ing birds, 7 t F EF cl F fa at BR RR 7 = ‘Whee Fronch_hens, Two tur-tle doves Anda| par - triage. 9 a pear| tree.—5, On the| Te fT Re ? — ry DZ Gm7 cr F F/A — Gtdim cr/a H a tt Ta., FRB fH ' | fifth day of Christ-mas, my|true love sent to me F Dm Bb cr af ia a NC, ¥Your_ call-ing birds, |Three French hens, lightly ghtly tT 7F Bb F Ge FE Dm? it #¢ = a } i SS cH - Pa sith day of Citist-mes, my sev-enth day of Christ-mas, my eighth day of Christ-mas, my ninth day of Christ-mas, my tenth day of Christ-mas, my lev-enth day of Christ-mas, my twelfth day of Christ-mas, my ¢ = a r ¥ Repeat a3 nec : Gmt cr Fr er ee Ea Chaim =f fe isu i FHF on, EE aS == ae t T £ T true love gave to me ix geese a - lay - ing, Five gold-en (7) true love gave to me Sev-en swans a- swim-ming, (to 6) (8) true love gave to me Eight maids a - milk - ing, (to 7) (9) true love gave to me Nine la - dies dane - ing, (to 8) (10) true love gave to me Ten lords a- leap - ing, (to 9) true love gave tome E-f] lev-en pip- ers pip - ing, (to 10) (12) true love gave to me Twelve drum-mers drum-ming, (to 11) d a : ees —| Ds = he = rp = if aT t z z f cv/G Dm Bb C7 mm oe re xe. Four_ call-ing birds,|Three French hens,| Two— tur-tle doves And a lightiy 28Traditional F Bb F cr SS a 1, A-|way in a |man ~ ger, no |erib for a | bed, ‘The | lit - tle Lord 2.The |cat - tle are }low - ing, the |poor Ba- by |wakes, But | lit - tle Lord’ 3. Be |near me, Lord| Je - sus, I ask Thee to stay Close] by me for-| P : ft 4 —e PRS ae = : z po + 7 F os aS t @) Je - sus laid }down His sweet| head. The |stars in_the | sky, looked @Je-sus no | cry-ing We |makes. I | love Thee, Lord] Je - sus, look @ev-er and|love me I |pray. Bless the ' dear|chil - dren in == g i = re rye ait po Te ye @ down where He | lay, The | lit - tle Lord] Je-sus a-|sleep on the | hay. @ down from the | sky, And|stay by my | cra-dle till | morn is | nigh. @ Thy ten-der |care, And|take us to |heav-en to live with Thee| there. | = | | | _—— = 4 = f ae a t — fe opr 8 ee Mase Ring I 29en ‘Traditional Joyously D aH SH 9! ES sa reTtit ty | a F F TRE PRPRP PPP ee eee 1.) An - gele we have|heard on high |Sweet-ly si o'er the plains, 2.iShep-herds, why this| ju - bi-lee? | Why your j strains pro - long? 3.$[Come to Beth-le-| hem and see Him whose birth the an - gels sing. * 4 = | TF ae (cam Em By OE D G D7 G D & DT aa } fy ARG] ER tH FF | | h 1 j 1 « =e —— = =e a a a i = @ And the moun-tains| in re - ply | Ech ~ o - ing their| joy - ous strains. @What the glad-some| tid - ings be [Which in- spire your|heav'n-ly song? @€ome a - dore on |bend~ed knee |Christ the Lord, the | new-born King. . - a ale ee 3031 ad ex - cel - sis in af meee ee Oe oe OO Oe oe oe Oe Oe oe om oe om om oe om omGood ‘King Wenceslas Words by John Mason Neale; Music Traditional F_ Dm cr, _F, Bho oF, Bb ci, F rin i 1 Wen - ces-| las look'd out onthe feast of | Ste - phen, flesh and|bring me wine, |bring me pine logs |hith - er. a ii (@When the snow lay |round a- bout, | deep and crisp and @Thou and I will | see him dine, | when we bear him |thith 7 FAS Fae Pa a ae (Bright -ly shone the |moon that night, |though the frost was | cru (3) Page and mon -arch|forth they went, | forth they went to -| geth oprah 88 Are Mas Pabihig VW ™ Tah am AD oa a att ot oth ot oth oath oth oh a)SE ereee SEES SE Eee er See EE SESE EI Erte EES Eero enn ETErIETeTE No chord 4 srr HIE I al|sire, the night is |dark-ér now, 5]| In his mas - ter's|steps he trod, ae Ah ay oe G - iB @ and the wind blows|strong - Fails my heart, I |know not how, @where the snow lay |dint - + [Heat was in the | ver - y sod aM AM a BM gs ae ah eRe @ 1 can go no | long - er." |"Mark my foot - steps,] my good page, @which the Saint hed | print - ed. There-fore, Chris - tian | men, be sure, J ¥ 7 TF G Cc DT & Em. DT c G Am. RiP eas ORE na Re @ tread thou in them [bold - ly. [Thou shalt find the | win-ter's rage @wealth or rank pos -|sess - ing; Ye who now will |bless the poor D 1 rR @freeze thy blood less © shall your-selves find T Ertt . 33,_ DeRe we COME 1) A-CAROLING the WASSAIL SONG Traditional (22) + fy i 1] Here we come a- - Qf] Pless the mas -ter oo a a @Here we come a -| wan- d'ring so | feir___to be 5 @ all the lit - tle | chil - dren that jround the ta - bleto ! | And God | bless you and | send you TT |) Uf TOTRW RRs Re A We AR Wea Re Resch Reh Re é We Wish You a Merry Christmas 3 a aaa gating aia atin, gata ya, get, Ya ye 30 Traditional a. 2 Brightly, with spirit ee ¥ 1 Ht a 7S == =F == = FS = 2 ye Tie? f —F (@]] wish you a Mer-ry |Christ-mas; We |wish you a Mer-ry |Christ-mas; We @J} bring us a fig-gy | pud-ding; Oh, |pring us a fig- gy | pud-ding; On, @]] won't go un-til we've] got some; We |won't go un-til we've] got some; We fd dad |) hd td # y FA HEH vis HH a wie. = SS : é = xa ore eo 3 (@® wish you a Mer-ry |Christ-mas and a @bring us a fig-gy | pud-ding and a | cup of good | cheer Good @) won't go un-tilwe've| got some, so bring some out | here. a = Tt a 7 ot 36 ie) a nun ei wed= # . = je ie {fag ag a = = = a ~y a a WT Tr a tid- ings for |Christ-mas and a | Hap- py New |Year. 2. Oh,(repeat) = 3. We (repeat) - 4. We (continue) i SS Ss ? f i 5 u t T S G ET, AT DT war ar Christ-mas; We We = 5 = G7 Cc G Am. DT & fe FF = Ht FHT fi 3 t ; a = wish you a Mer-ry |Christ-mas and a | Hap - py New | Year. = |i—., - 2 z _ = 738 Section Two Popular Christmas Hits Blue Christmas (Words and Music by Billy Hayes and Jay Johrison) Page 54 ‘Most Christmas songs are filled with warmth, hope and good cheer in celebration of our most beloved holiday. But there’ another side to Christmas, 00, with special appeal to the country and western music audience. The theme of lost and unrequited love is familiar eo all country fans, and here it is given a poignant twist by songwriters Billy Hayes and Jay Johnson. “Blue Christmas” was written in 1948, and country singer Ernest Tubb made it a hit that same year. Both Elvis Presley and Hugo Winterhalter had popular versions of che song, but it remains steadfastly a country classic. C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S (Words by Jenny Lou Carson; Music by Eddy Amold) Page 70 Countrysinger Eddy Arnolds contribution to Christmas, which he wrote in 1949 with Jenny Lou Carson. is a reminder of the day’ true meaning. "CH-RI-S-T-M-A-S" makes an acronyre of the true symbols of Christmas: C forthe Christ Child; H forthe herald angels: Rforthe Redeemer: Ifor Israel, where Christ was, born: $ for the star that guiced T, the three Wise Men: iM for the manger where Jesus lay; A for all Christ ‘means to each of us; and S for the shepherds, the first to enter the stable in worship, Both Eddy Arnold and Jan Reeves made classic recordings of ths litle song with its simple melody: Christmas for Cowboys (Words and Music by Steve Weisberg) Page 62 Stew ibe was orm an raised in Daas, but he makes no cart being a cody chowgh he does ‘think chat cowboy boots are the only appropriate footwear). In 1975, Weisberg, playing dead guitar, was recording a Christmas album in Los Angeles with singer John Denver Though Denver usually writes and records his own material, the album was one song shor, and Weisberg got his chance. Using a melody that he had had in mind fora while, he stayed up all night and came up with "Christmas for Cowboys,” which soon became a part of Denver Rocky Mountain Christmas album. Christmas in Killarney (Words and Music by John Redmond, James Cavanaugh and Frank Weldon) Down in the southwest corner of Ireland, not far from Tralee and Killorglin and Gahirciveen, is the picturesque town of Killarney: Spring is greener there and summeris lovelien the residents say, just because its Killarney (rhymes with “blamey"). And in Killarney Cirristmas is more Christmasy agree the writers of this song, John Redmond, James Cavanaugh and Frank Weldon (Irishmen all). Dennis Day, the Irish tenor whose voice is compounded of the greenest shamrocks, introduced this lyrical ballad in 1951 with a recording chat quickly became a best-seller Page 48 Christmas Is (Words by Spence Maxwell; Music by Perey Faith) Page 64 Percy Faith, so well known for his lush, super-symphonic arrangements of popular and semiclassical favorites, also turned his hand to songwriting. In 1966, with Ipricist Spence Maxwell, he composed “Christmas Is,” agleaming compendium of some of the things chat make Christmas Christmas —the sights of holly, tinsel, sparkling snow and Santa, and the sounds of bells, carols and children’ laughter What ‘makes our holiday of holidays so special, though, is nor gifts and feasting, but the feelings —the sharing, the remembering, che hoping—that make ita season of joy for all men. Christmas Island (Words and Music by Lyle Moraine) Page 80 ‘Many of our visions of Christmas center around what are essentially Northern symbols —symbols such as snow andsleighs and frtrees. But heresa charming song about what the holiday slike atthe Equator. With ‘tiny, tiny population, Christmas Island, a former British possession, is one of the Line Islands south of Hawaii and just north of zero latitude. Used asan airbase, itcame tothe attention of American Gls during World War Il. But its chief importance seems to be that it was an atomic testing center in 1962. Lyle Moraine’ song, written in 1946, plays on the contrast between the temperate and tropical visions of Christmas, and originated ata time when the South Pacific was still very much on our minds.(Cicer cag ana Fire) Page ad: ig onan Open! : | Page 41 ga Song Chess MelTome chesuppeub singer inounos “Th elo eg! becoeeoftpecil gna of oie Hel seta ooolenl Nghe ehh vowy Neorae fal dy his fiend Robert ‘about the indoor and outdoor joys of the Yuletide season. tt was “The Christmas Song.” also uently called by its frst line" Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." Jeck Frost, carolers, people dressed Exkimos—there are part ofthe outdoor fur. Inside we have the mellofturkey roasting ny tots with ‘eyesglowing and the promise of Santat vist down the chimney. Tormé made a recording ofthe song. t year and Nat King Cole recorded an even more succesful version a decade later Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Page 44 Ceanee 2 lugh Martin and Ralph Blane) There os alway somethingof hevuerable child abou uy Garland Herbig lope fame cae a the played little Dorothy in The Wiaard of Ox in 19: prompt al bucher operate just alight. her arout fat ox prone ti ‘Hillabsolutety unforgettable. That was 1944, and she wasstarring in Meet Mein t Louis, “alove ofa,” _ nected the Telly Sng” and Ta By Nex Dt the mia ey Hugh ‘Ralph Blane offered “Have Yourself « Merry Little Chrstmas"—s0 movingly done in [poste a resp met cto omnes fifi este tebmes Til Be Home for Christmas Page 46 (Words by Kim Gannon; Music by Walter Kent) : ‘In 1943 the world was at war, and many thousands of American men and women in the service would be Wied Seedy bint Cry ax ayeot eri ng hed bade esearch ee ee rebpoi eek tig ete ‘As astronauts James Lovell and Frank Borman were hurtling back to earth Sri Mth Feit png eee ses scholar Sigraund Spaeth called “T hes ee Bescon cecena npn aml tarred hating ho mede many Oveoas ngs oe Mey Cito fo Page 50 | (Words by Paul Francs Webster: Music by Sonny Burke) és elasitacheed poplar inthe Und St dringthe 9305 hhh Seat sew cen ecceyalbie being sms one rs a jst. men ‘Anchese Sisters made the “Beer Barrel Polka ne oftemextmemertisegso Hr - SS 1 Lit r-3— 66, omaie nan | o~pen fire, Fmé be yule - tide Fm? ee Dm7/G G7-! ce Aad ae Fe = fbr i iz A —= ue Gm? cr a | Jack Frost nip-ping at your cy 4 Em?-5 Am? Dm7-5 7-9 Cmaj7 on. ARE RE, RED aHave Yourself vero dy up Manna Si Be eae a fRenr’y faittle @hristmas Slowly and delicately g Am, Dm7 Gr, Am? Dm? Gy # # + EE Have your-self a | mer-ry lit-tle Christ-mas;) Let your heart be |light, “——~ ae | c AmT me mo aah? fe Be ye From now on, our | trou-bles will be out of | sight. oom rk me of Ff mom Bs: tH Have your-self a ad me oe ARS ie er will be miles a -| way. cresi 7 44 opyigh 194 ree 172 by eee mmm mmmsmsemsmsemseomhsome om om omom mom om Mmmm Mmaat Ha tab be i th th at tp uw HO te tart uu i | 3 Fader Fahey Fhmi-5 Fmt 2a T T Here we are as in mf. d =_g— Pheer T Fim7-5 BY Fin, BiB se. Faithful friends who are|dear to us mpsub. gath-er |near to _—— 4 — S153 oe If__the Fates al -| eat Through the years we ] all will be to-geth-ér r Fawp, F Gee? Em7 = Am? Bm7-5 Am, GHaug i es Hang a shin-ing |star up-on the high-est | bough, Fmaj? Dm? ae oc Cmajt antl Ne, ee have your-self a 2 ddd TF esI'll Be Home for Christmas Words by Kim Gannon; Music by Walter Kent aay Tye Moderately slow, in two (J=1 beat) ™ =-_Hm™.smMm rm mp smoothly And |pres - ents eppriht © 190, ened 1711972 y Gann Kent MC. ne. Iteration Coyightecd Alright roli y ot db dh th Ob GG aa th ub dae oo oo Th Dyt/a Gos, Q Ebdim Dm? rw right | gleams.christmas inkillarney Words and Music by John Redmond, James Cavanaugh and Frank Weldon Irish jig tempo » & hol-ly green, the i-vy green, The| J \ : pret-ti- est pic-ture you've ev - er seen Is |Christ-mas in Kil-lar-ney With of the folks at home. It's | nice, you know, to kiss your beau While T 7 ; F/¢ Cc Cc A, ome ae cud-dl-ing un-der the mis - tle-toe, And] San - ta Claus_you know, of course, Is 48yo aera oe of the bi * 's from home. The| door is al-ways q-pen; The|neigh-bors pay a call; A B/A And ¢ Am? DT Gg etm # + jae Ss se a oe = TT F z Fa - ther John be-fore he's gone Will }bless_ the house and ail. How Sd : = 4 —— ai —, 1 ¢ F/¢ ¢ to click yo FTI SS grand it feeis mur heels And| join in the fun of the jigs SS 5 pes and reels; I'm | ee at i hand - inj g you no blar-ney, The $ GI/D C/E t F Fo AVE N.C, tH likes you've never ki slowing down me FR iN nown very slow = F Fhdim C/G) Am iy FF c pr ae 7 | BoE FARE | aha ee ee mh ae ae - S44 Christ-mas in Kil-lar-ney With all of the folks at home. J tempo + TtThe Merry Christmas Polka Words by Paul Francis Webster; Music by Sonny Burke Moderate polka tempo v v v v4 vel v fid - dies now, the | fid - dles now, the room we go, the [room we go, _ the ro RF RR g fid - dles now; There's} wine to warm mid - dles now room we gos ‘A -fround and round room we go, 1-7 ar ie Pa Gr c set your head a -|ihicl. A-|[- get your-self a | girl. 1 (ey y ECT rt rt > Comm Aa a ep ct rte Sraraacttcareatee 50 ]c Gy, if # + Now ev-'ry |heart When sleigh bells | jin- gle on San-ta's will | greet Foo Abts Dint/7) Christ ~ mas ~ ewe vPrrrrge 51‘The Merry Christmas Polka F Chorus = : the |mer - ry Christ-mas | pol - kas the |mer- ry Christ-mas | pol - ka; hap - py On, it's the step with ‘A- round @ z be | jol - ly and |deck the halls with | hol- ly; the |ceil - ing with |1ots of time for |steal-ing let's have a | jol- ly hol- i -| day.. iss - es be-{neath the mis- tle -| toe. ae 7 tr Aaj wireee eee eeseereeeeran Pirie Se Se oo le mer - ry Christ-mas | pol - ka; An- oth- er mer - ry Christ-mas | pol - ka; With ev-'ry - aay aay ILL =a SB SSeS) ree ek roy Roy Rk i pp deg REE ete See sea~son has be-| gun. Roll out the Yule - tide— join-ing in the [ fun; Roll out the [bar - rels that ea = qaqa = SSS a a ee eee aia ee eee c7 Am7 Dm? Gm7 t +H \ \ va Sj} Se Se = sp i ae sing out the | car- ols, A | mer ~ ry Christ-mas shout till they |hear you, A | mer- ry Christ-mas ESS St 2 t c7, lS a la 7 SSS ree = \" c F ——F ; 2 , céme on and fa —} “ray Sy aN