I thought I would have a little fun this week by taking a look at some of the best and worst lyrics we get to reflect upon and sing along with each Christmas season. I have tried to choose lyrics from popular Christmas songs, both secular and sacred (*I have also included links for each of the songs), and hopefully each song choice will either cause a grin or a groan.
Please also feel free to add your own best and worse song lyric choices in the comment section below— could be fun to see what songs rise to the top or sink to the bottom of our holiday music lists?
Lets begin by getting the worst over with…
Worst Song Lyrics
Song # 5 — Come On Ring Those Bells (By Andrew Culwover)
“Come on, ring those bells, light the Christmas tree, Jesus is the king, born for you and me. Come on, ring those bells, everybody say, Jesus, we remember this your birthday.”
Okay — the actual words to this song are not terrible (corny yes, but not terrible) and they actually contain a good message. However, because of the cringeworthy melody, and living with the horrifying memory or being forced to sing this song as a kid in front of the whole church while ringing annoying bells, makes this my least favourite of all Christmas songs. (*Sorry to anyone I have upset with my first choice!)
here is Evie’s version — anyone remember Evie? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NruxzInhTs
Song # 4 — I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas (By John Rox)
“Mom says a hippo would eat me up, But then, teacher says a hippo is a vegetarian. There’s lots of room for him in our two-car garage. I’d feed him there and wash him there and give him his massage.”
Much of this 1950’s classic makes me smile, but there is something about the image of giving a “hippo a massage” that quickly kills the Christmas spirit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsvOrtcrA5c
Song # 3 — This Christmas (By Donny Hathaway)
“Fireside’s blazing bright, we’re caroling through the night. And this Christmas will be a very special Christmas for me, yeah… Shake a hand, shake a hand now… Merry Christmas, shake a hand, shake a hand now… Wish your brother Merry Christmas all over the land… Yeah, Merry Christmas, merry, merry Christmas Hey! Merry, merry, merry, merry, Hmmm, ohh, ohh…”
Wow — words escape me! I think the lyrics to this Christmas gem convict themselves. What is so funny about this song is that it has this soulful romantic vibe to it, and just as you think the song is starting to get a little steamy, it the tells us to, “shake a hand.” Hey — maybe it is the perfect Holiday song for hormonal teenagers!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhKVSZsRxQM
Song # 2 — Jingle Bells (by James Pierpont)
“A day or two ago, the story I must tell, I went out on the snow, and on my back I fell; A gent was riding by In a one-horse open sleigh, He laughed as there I sprawling lie, but quickly drove away.”
Apparently James Pierpont was no Good Samaritan. On one of the lessor known verses of this classic upbeat jingle, tells of how the “gent” in the sleigh leaves a damsel in distress laying in the snow! Sounds more like the Grinch than a gent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR6YAgVIljg
Song # 1 — Here Comes Santa Clause (by Gene Autry)
“Santa Clause knows we are all God’s children, that makes everything right, so fill your heart with cheer, cause Santa Clause comes tonight…
Peace on Earth will come to all if we just follow the light. So let’s give thanks to the Lord above, cause Santa Clause comes tonight.”
Sometimes lyrics can be so bad they are actually good, and this is definitely the case with this Gene Autry classic (*though Elvis’ version is the best!). These lyrics are so ridiculously wrong on so many levels they cannot help but make me smile and laugh every time I hear them. I had a tough time deciding if they should top the best or the worst lyric list? (*FYI — These are the actual lyrics that inspired this week’s post)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWcFiGKm-JU
Best Song Lyrics
Song # 5 — Mr. Grinch (By Dr. Seuss)
“You’re a rotter, Mr. Grinch, You’re the king of sinful sots. Your heart’s a dead tomato splotched with moldy purple spots, Mr Grinch. You’re a three decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich with arsenic sauce!”
This song is so fun, so clever, I cannot help but laugh at how repulsive Dr. Seuss makes the Grinch with each verse. It was tough deciding what horribly great verse to pick — I believe the, “three words that best describe” this song, “are as follows, and I quote, ‘Stink, Stank, Stunk!’”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hj3U18FHgQ
Song # 4 — Here We Come A-Wassailing (Author Unknown)
“We are not daily beggars, who beg from door to door. But we are neighbour’s children, whom you have seen before.
We have a little purse made of ratching leather skin; We want some of your small change, to line it well within.
God bless the Master of this house, likewise the Mistress too; And all the little children that round the table go…
Love and joy come to you, and to your wassail too; And God bless you and send you a happy New Year. And God send you a happy New Year.”
This is such a fun and well done little song of blessing and cheer that takes us back another time, to past traditions we now miss out on. I always feel happy hearing this song. It makes me wish for young carollers to visit our house, where we can help fill there purses and share with them a hot cup of cider. (*Wassail = was the first cider of the year, and “wassailing” was the tradition of going to neighbours, passing along good tidings and kids collecting alms, often being invited inside to enjoy a cup of hot mulled-cider and sweets).
Here is a favourite version by british folk singer Kate Rusby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZjQTCaJCEY
Song # 3 — I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day (By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
“And in despair I bowed my head, ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said. ‘For hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.’
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men.”
These powerful lines always choke me up. It seems at Christmas, along with Longfellow, we cannot ignore all that is still wrong with our world. This classic reminds us, God is not finished, and even in the midst of darkness there are always chimes of hope ringing for all to hear.
Can’t go wrong with a little Harry Belefonte at Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B85s8JfldU0
Song # 2 — Good King Wenceslas (By John Mason Neale)
“Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither: Thou and I shall see him dine, when we bear him thither.” Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together. Through the wind’s wild lament and the bitter weather…
“In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted, heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed. Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing; Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.”
I love songs that tell a story. I remember having to memorize this song and perform it at a school assembly as a kid, but unlike, “Come On Ring Those Bells,” I liked this song. This song is such a beautiful story of a how a young nobleman (Duke Wenceslaus I of Bohemia, 911–935) braves a winter storm with his servant to bring food and supplies to a peasant. It is a beautiful story with a beautiful message, and beautifully told with a snappy tune to boot!
Here is a good Canadian version by the Skydiggers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9WCEEeTPMw
Song # 1 — The Magnificat (By Mary — Luke 1:46–49)
“My Soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; For the might One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.”
Probably the most beloved of all Christmas songs, is still the first Christmas song ever written, and comes straight from the lips and soul of Jesus’ mother.
This version was written by John Michael Talbot and recorded by my cousin Steve Bell — I love the piano near the end:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYsFSSXkufk
3 Personal Favourites!
Just as a little extra, I have added three more songs. These are my 3 personal favourite songs that melt me every time I hear them at Christmas time!
1 — A Cradle In Bethlehem (By Nat King Cole)
“Sing sweet and low a lullaby, till angels say ‘Amen.’ A mother tonight is rocking a cradle in Bethlehem.”
It is Nat King Cole — No Christmas is complete without him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5EBVHnLUlE
2 — Ding-Dong Merrily On High (By Roger Whittaker)
“Ding dong merrily on high n heaven the bells are ringing. Ding dong, verily the sky Is riven with angel singing. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis.”
A favourite Christmas album growing up had this song on it. Every time I hear it, I feel like it is a grandfather giving a warm Christmas hug with his warm velvet singing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7Cd9bQUHP0
3 — Song For A Winter’s Night (By Gordon Lightfoot)
“If I could only have you near to breathe a sigh or two. I would be happy just to hold the hands I love on this winter night with you. And to be once again with you.”
If ever I am away from home on a snowy night, this song comes to mind and the emotions with it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWEZK0mMG2c
