1. |
Call It Christmas
05:17
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I saw the red alerts as bright as santa's cap
Hung up like tinsel on the weather warnings map
Hey but I see no colours out tonight
No, the window's like a blank sheet of paper just as white as snow
I heard the news proclaim bleak tidings from the sky
Icebound commuters forced to pause their working lives
But their smiles say they're glad to lose their gold
For a day off just to play with their children in the cold throwing snowballs
The angels at last have time to fly
See the stars and let them guide you home
And grace has descended from on high
And covered all our dark streets with light
And they call it disruption; I call it Christmas!
Just a snowy Monday in mid January
Let's call it Christmas
I've seen the drivers
Bold enough or fool enough to spin their luck upon the frozen tarmac
Doesn't matter if they drive a white van or a jag
Or if the ice is white or if it's black
All the people band together to heave up every slope
And shovels aplenty get them home
Their reservedness as potholed as the road
I heard the Met police were called to Primrose Hill
For some disorder had disturbed the morning chill
But when they saw the protesters sledging down
They sat upon their riot shields and joined the laughing crowd down the snow slide
The angels at last have time to fly
See the stars and let them guide you home
grace has descended from on high
And covered all our dark streets, covered all our parked up idles to greed, covered all our refuse with light
And they call it disruption; I call it Christmas!
Just look out the window; it might as well be Christmas
I've felt the driving sleet, the weeks without the sun
The bitter cold of all the wrong our race has done
And though we're far from that promised peace on earth
I've seen the star and I'll go for what it's worth
yes I'll go
Where the lords are made low
Where forgiveness drifts like snow
Till our city is a blank sheet of paper
All our rushing and our roads who'd remember
The poor will laugh at the sight
All our riches buried overnight
Now this moment is a blank sheet of paper
On which to write love, we're starting over
The angels will sing it in the sky
and the stars will guide us there at last
Mammon is buried, love is nigh
And all is peace and all is shared
And they call it disruption; I call it Christmas!
Just call it Christmas, you've been working hard so have a day off and call it Christmas, hey merry Christmas!
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2. |
The Coventry Carol
03:39
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3. |
The Darkling Thrush
05:32
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I leant upon a coppice gate
When Frost was spectre-grey,
And Winter's dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires.
The land's sharp features seemed to be
The Century's corpse outleant,
His crypt the cloudy canopy,
The wind his death-lament.
The ancient pulse of germ and birth
Was shrunken hard and dry,
And every spirit upon earth
Seemed fervourless as I.
At once a voice arose among
The bleak twigs overhead
In a full-hearted evensong
Of joy illimited;
An aged thrush, frail, gaunt and small,
In blast-beruffled plume,
Had chosen thus to fling his soul
Upon the growing gloom.
So little cause for carolings
Of such ecstatic sound
Was written on terrestrial things
Afar or nigh around,
That I could think there trembled through
His happy good-night air
Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew
And I was unaware.
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4. |
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5. |
Fourteen
08:03
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A new life answers
Summer’s dawn
Feeding, dreams to fly
But ice soon falls
And there were fourteen
Fourteen stars
Up in space
A softly glowing trace
To watch while you wait
Under fourteen
Fourteen stars
Crawl out
Before the willow bursts
Through winter’s night
Long days, but
Soon comes
The fading light
And there were fourteen
Fourteen stones
Where you lay
Suspended in one place
The frost in your veins
And over fourteen
Fourteen stones
Rise up, once more
Begin again
Season after season
Feast, freeze and thaw
And there were fourteen
Fourteen years
Til you woke
A paper skin you wove
The bonds they were broken
After fourteen
Fourteen years
No longer tied to the tundra
You’re living on
The scales on your wings
Are as grey as the rocks that fall
Beneath your flight
As you lift
Into history
And for fourteen
Fourteen more hours
You live
You were only waiting for the right moment to shine
For your time to come alive
For the sun to rise
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6. |
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7. |
Boxing Day Eve
05:55
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Boxing Day Eve and falling night
All is calm and all is bright
Curled up by the fireplace and everything's right by me
It's just you and me now, no-one else is around
And you know I want you, I'm the warmest cat in town
Mmm you're the leftover turkey that they foolishly left out
It was too easy
Now all their frantic frittering for food and gifts has ended
All their family feuding has scattered them and faded
It's just me, the VIC, anything I want included
On the night before Boxing Day
So I'll do as I please, no-one tells me what to eat
I'll llick all the snack foods and snaffle all the meat
And sink my claws into every arm of their three-piece suite
It sure feels good
Now mummy's too tired, she's hit the sack early
Daddy's too drunk to even notice what I'm up to
And the children, so transfixed by toys they've left the boxes empty
On the night before Boxing Day yeah
Well it's easy to see why Boxing Day's so called
For every gift opened leaves a palace of cardboard
And they get so excited about the day before
But look to the future now, it's only just begun!
So much food leftover mummy feeds me like a king
Daddy's so hungover I can snooze on top of him
And the children leave their greatest gifts for me to fidget in
I just can't wait until Boxing Day yeah!
On the night before Boxing Day yeah!
La la la la...
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8. |
Occupy: Christmas!
02:22
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If austerity Christmas starts to get you down
I got news for you that might just bring you round
There’s a jolly fat-cat all dressed in red
With a sack full of dividends in his sled
Look under our tree, did he leave a bonus for you?
Well if you're not one of the ninety-nine
Then I'm sure you'll be doin just-a-mighty-fine
The rest of us had better occupy Christmas!
We wish you a hopeful Christmas
With peace and love and mince pies for everyone!
To have joy you don’t need to buy no more junk
We’re gonna occupy Christmas! Waow!
No heavenly music in the sky tonight you’ll hear
Not even a stocking full of coal this year
Such naughty boys and girls they’ve been
To cut the Season’s Service pension scheme
The Yuletide Union balloted its members
Well the angels polled unanimously
And Santa’s elves did all agree
To back the strike and occupy Christmas! Waow!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open Micra, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
I don’t know what I’m doing anymore so I'll make a cup of tea
We wish you a hopeful Christmas
With peace and love and mince pies for everyone!
To have joy you don’t need to buy no more junk
We’re gonna occupy Christmas! Waow!
C-C-C-Christmas! Waow!
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9. |
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Food enough to see out one hundred-thousand years
Dulcet tones of the Brooms ringing in your ears
Outside the snow is falling
The robin softly calling you
To bring good cheer
Six laying-geese are honking
And reindeer hooves are stomping
That’s how you’ll know its Christmas time
Christmas jumpers in the shops, the weather’s getting cool
Stupid adverts on the box take you for a fool
The family’s gifts need wrapping
And neighbours’ doors need tapping
Wassail we will sing
Old ladies’ sprouts need peeling
There’s tinsel on the ceiling
That’s how you’ll know its Christmas time
A holy anthem that resounds, straining to be heard
A glimpse of hope, a tale of peace waiting to be learned
The killing fields are silent
No fear, no pain, no violence
Walls have broken down
A light dispels the darkness
Our hearts are filled with gladness
The clouds have silver linings
A million stars are shining
That’s how we’ll know its Christmas time
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10. |
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O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel
Creation groans in agony
We hold the keys to liberty
But so worn down by cares of life
We e'en neglect our own in strife
(rejoice...)
O God, we feel so far from Thee
Thy presence, Thy eternity
This fallen world is far from home
And You seem hid by cloud, unknown
(rejoice...)
And on that day when God shall dwell
With man in our new 'Israel'
Thy kingdom come, our fall undone
And all creation joined as one
(rejoice...)
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11. |
The Angel Came To Mary
03:30
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The Angel came to Mary at Nazareth in Galilee
Not to a queen, nor a town of roy’l abode
For his name was Gabriel, subject to no king was he
But to the Most High, the everlasting God
Singing “Oh my soul, rejoice!
In God who is mindful of the humble voice
And greetings to thee most highly favoured maid
God is with thee Mary do not be afraid”
Spake the Angel truly, “Thou wilt be with Holy child
Thy tender womb is the Son of God to bear
You may name him Jesus, for he comes to reconcile
All Earth and Heaven in their maker’s loving care
Singing “Oh my soul, rejoice!
In God who is mindful of the humble voice
So go and see you heard me here foretell
Your old Aunt Elizabeth bears a son as well”
“I will be God’s servant” Mary spake and “Let it be”
Thence to the hills of Judea she made haste
For Elizabeth dwelled there and as Mary greeted she
In her the babe leapt for joy that filled her praise
Singing “Oh my soul, rejoice!
In God who is mindful of the humble voice
The Lord hath taken my disgrace away
Blessed are you oh Mary and thy child today”
Then didst Mary’s soul sing “All will ever call me blessed
For God hath done such amazing things for me
He hath filled the hungry with the very wholesome best
But sent the rich empty handed now to be
And oh my soul, rejoice!
In God who is mindful of the humble voice
For he hath brought down the rulers from their thrones
And lifted up the humble people as his own“
Then was Jesus born in a stable shed in Bethlehem
Poor refugee in that town of roy’l abode
And t’was lowly shepherds saw the Hosts of Heaven send
Tidings of gladness and joy for all the world
Singing “Oh my soul, rejoice!
In God who is mindful of the humble voice
And glory to God in the highest
Peace on Earth and all his favour on thee rest”
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12. |
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(I’m just getting into it)
It will all be over by Christmas
It will all be over by Christmas
It will all be over by Christmas
No one can remember the first time it was said
Some still know what it cost but could never count the dead
But when the general trots it out there’s one thing you’ll foresee
Whatever the season’s greetings there’s no peace under that tree
It will all be over by Christmas (They said)
It will all be over by Christmas (Got it in my head)
Yes we’ll all be headed home for Christmas
I can smell that turkey’s long gone cold
Come twenty-fifth December of 1914
Still freezing in the trenches exactly where they’d been
So they disobeyed the orders and for just one day ran free
Oh the Germans’ goal was offside but both sides can agree
Can we all give it a rest for Christmas? (Insubordination in the ranks!)
Can this all be over just for Christmas? (Stop that fraternisation!)
Can the guns play Silent Night for Christmas?
Some respite from their Hark the Herald Hell
Come on and ring that Christmas bell!
That was the war to end all wars
Except the hundreds that have followed
“It’ll all be over” they recite like it’s a law
That with each Christmas gets more meaningless and hollow
Well we believe in something more
We’re done with asking what the fighting’s for
Let’s rise to the newborn Saviour’s call
To smash the machines of war
It will all be over by Christmas (Here we come singing)
It will all be over by Christmas (Our star is rising)
And the angels fill the sky on Christmas
Singing out “the Prince of Peace has come”
So come together everyone
Oooh ooh ooh yeah!
(...I didn’t envisage it as being a…
...un-sensible, not that un-sensible...
...In-fact could that do with being louder?...
...It will add to the excitement...
...OK...
...So I read…
...Its rock and roll…
...Do it again!)
Well they’re still telling us that peace is oh-so-near
If only we buy harder guns and bigger balls of fire
Hey I know that some men have to compensate for something
In their race to make the biggest bang they’ll blow it all for nothing
It will all be over by Christmas (Really?)
It will all be over by Christmas (Woohooo!)
It will all be over by Christmas (My Christmas shopping never is!)
It will all be over by Christmas (Sir! Yes Sir!)
Yeah we might all be dead and gone by Christmas
So don’t jinx me with your lies general
Hooah!
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13. |
Angels From The Realms
02:47
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Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight o’er all the Earth
You who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth
Come and worship
Come and worship
Come and worship Christ the King
Come and worship
Come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King
Shepherds in the fields abiding
Watching o’er your flocks by night
God with us is now residing
Yonder shines the infant light
Come and worship
Come and worship
Come and worship Christ the King
Come and worship
Come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King
Sages leave your contemplations
Brighter visions beam afar
Seek the great desire of nations
You have seen his natal star
Come and worship
Come and worship
Come and worship Christ the King
Come and worship
Come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King
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14. |
O Holy Night
04:37
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Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear saviour’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til he appeared and the soul found 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, oh night divine
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 oppressions shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy, in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise his holy name
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine
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15. |
Old Wenceslas Looked Out
04:40
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Old Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
The snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
How brightly shone the moon!
Though the frost was cruel
A poor man came in sight,
Gath'ring winter fuel
“Come page and stand by me:
And if you know, please tell me?
This peasant, who is he?
And do you know his dwelling?”
“He lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain
Against the forest fence
Up by Saint Agnes' fountain”
“Sire we have meat and wine,
And we have pine logs burning
We should not let him die,
The weather it is turning”
The rich man looked away,
“Whilst I feel pity for him,
He must make his own way,
Tis not for us to save him”
While the night was dark
And while the wind blew stronger
The page knew in his blood
That he could wait no longer
He gathered all he could
Then he stepped out alone
The raging winter storm
Froze him to his bones
But though the snow lay deep
In every step he’d taken
Warmth was in his sole, for
Love had not forsaken
Therefore good folk come all,
Wealth or rank abandon
All you who bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing
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16. |
The Halsway Carol
02:26
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Lo for the tiding of the long night moon
Let the sunrise call about the morning soon
Short is the biding of the fading light
Sing for the coming of the longest night
North wind tell us what we need to know
When the stars are shining on the midnight snow
All of the branches will be turned to white
Sing for the coming of the longest night
A winter day, the summer grass turned hay
Frost in the field ‘til the dawn of May
A summer’s light never shone as great or as bright
So dance in the shadows of a winter’s night
Lo for the tiding of the long night moon
May the harvest last until the springtime bloom
Home is our comfort at the winter’s height
Sing for the coming of the longest night
All of the colours of the sunrise sky
Shine a light upon us, as the day goes by
Sun-setting shadows fading out of sight
Sing for the coming of the longest night
A winter day, the summer grass turned hay
Frost in the field ‘til the dawn of May
A summer’s light never shone as great or as bright
So dance in the shadows of a winter’s night
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17. |
One Turtle Dove
05:25
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One turtle dove came this year
As the hawthorn bloomed
Purring at dawn from the top of a dead oak
Scratching for seeds in the sun
Whilst his plumage glowed
Spinning his love song on sultry winds
There came no reply from mate or rival or friend
Cocking his head to the wind to no avail
And the villagers, paid no heed at all
Not yet gone but forgotten he sleeps
Under the stars of a silent night
One turtle dove headed south
As his chances waned
O’er a heedless continent Winged his way
From the corner of his red eye
Saw a star to the east
He banked and turned on the breeze, his pace gathered
He made landfall at dawn in a sad and broken place
David’s city now shattered by bombs and hate
Oh what child was there, what difference made his birth?
Bullet shocked days find just temp’ry peace
A restless ceasefire that silent night
For all the life blood spent, for security or zeal
Within or without those prayers and concrete walls
No magi found a word of wisdom more
One turtle dove tossed in tumultuous skies
And flew for the North Star’s silent night
For now, now is the time
When the turtle’s heard in our land
And the flowers appear
In these scorched earth fields
All the streams run clear
The glow worms light up the hedgerows
The tree that was withered
Shall bear fruit again
One turtle dove's heading north
As the hoar frost blooms
The impulse to fly back to where he had come from
Is stronger than need for the sun
Or Africa’s kind climes
He descends too soon to a frozen land
Not to hedgerow or field, but to village green at dawn
Waking the world with his sweet and purring song
And the villagers wonder what it means
Perched on top of the shining Christmas tree
A wondrous dove breaks this silent night
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18. |
All Kindred Folk Rejoice
02:16
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All kindred folk rejoice!
With heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say
Jesus Christ is born today!
Ox and ass before Him bow
And He is in the manger now
Christ is born today!
Christ is born today!
All kindred folk, rejoice!
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye hear of endless bliss
Jesus Christ was born for this
He hath ope'd the heav'nly door
And we are blessed forevermore
Christ was born for this
Christ was born for this
All kindred folk, rejoice!
With heart and soul and voice
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save
Calls you one and calls you all
To gain His everlasting hall
Christ was born to save
Christ was born to save
In dulci jubilo
Let us our homage show
Our hearts’ joy reclineth
In praesepio
And like a bright star shineth
Matris in gremio
Alpha es et O!
Alpha es et O!
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19. |
The Yorkshire Carol
02:59
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While shepherds watched their flocks by night (flocks by night)
All seated on the ground
The Angel of the Lord came down
The Angel of the Lord came down (without his trousers on)
And glory shone around
And glory shone around
And glory shone around
“Fear not” said he, for mighty dread (mighty dread)
Had seized their troubled minds
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
Glad tidings of great joy I bring (without my trousers on)
To you and all mankind
To you and all mankind
To you and all mankind
To you in David’s town this day (David’s town)
Is born of David’s line
The saviour who is Christ the Lord
The saviour who is Christ the Lord (without his trousers on)
And this shall be the sign
And this shall be the sign
And this shall be the sign
The heavenly babe you there shall find (there shall find)
To human view displayed
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands (without his trousers on)
And in a manger laid
And in a manger laid
And in a manger laid (where the ducks fly backwards)
Thus spoke the seraph and forthwith (and forthwith)
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God who thus
Of angels praising God who thus (without their trousers on)
Addressed their joyful song
Addressed their joyful song
Addressed their joyful song
All glory be to God on high (God on high)
And to the Earth be peace
Goodwill henceforth from Heaven to men
Goodwill henceforth from Heaven to men (without their trousers on)
Begin and never cease
Begin and never cease
Begin and never cease
Where hast tha been since I saw thee?
In Bethlehem bah t’at
Where hast tha been since I saw thee?
Thou has come back without thy sheep (but with thy trousers on)
In Bethlehem bah t’at
In Bethlehem bah t’at
In Bethlehem bah t’at!
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The Brooms of Destruction UK
Passionately silly musicians, writing & playing an eclectic bunch of songs about world issues and cookies. Met while reading at Reading Uni.
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