Christmas Songs Have Surely Come A Long Way
Christmas songs have come a long way and at the same time have endured. What does this mean? Well, think about whatever comes to mind when someone says the two simple words, Christmas songs. If you grew up where it snows in December, you likely recall—besides caroling in hay trucks, listening to carolers—songs with lyrics about chestnuts roasting on an open fire and sleigh bells and one of the dreams of the great late Bing Crosby, that of a white Christmas.
If you had any number of Christmases from 1969 through the early seventies, the early eighties, the early nineties, or the early oughts—that is, through the Vietnam, Granada, Gulf War, and current wars (how embarrassing to think we have had war every decade!)—you likely think of songs such as “I’ll be Home for Christmas.”
And, of course, many of us will fondly recall at least an earful of kids’ songs, chattered by The Chipmunks, lead vocalist Alvin notwithstanding; “All I Want for Christmas (is My Two Front Teeth);” and the racy “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”
But Christmas songs evolved. From the free domain songs that are still absolutely moving, like “O Holy Night” and “Little Drummer Boy,” sung by kids in itchy Christmas pageants or pious choirs once a year without fail and simple ditties about food and presents and figgy pudding and nog, Christmas songs have gone into penetrating, challenging, bonding, and spiritually elevating realms.
John Lennon, I think, started the trend of a Christmas song with a higher consciousness—with “And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?” and “And so this is Christmas (war is over), for weak and for strong (if you want it), the rich and the poor ones, the road is so long….” Imagine (or remember) how those frolicky, campy, or solemn and religious Christmas songs now had the words “war” and “fight” directly stated rather than implied? Stunning.
And then came the unusual duo or unlikely star remake trends for Christmas songs, which were, really, equally moving: Bing Crosby joined David Bowie to remake “The Little Drummer Boy.” Slade and Wham! Do Christmas classics. Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” is resuscitated.
And for a few years we have strayed from lyrics, per se, and have indulged in the saintly sounds of chanting Monks. I love these original options, as much as I still get chills when I hear original or other versions of those songs that had such limited meaning when I was kid doing solos for the elementary school parents. But every year, I still am moved to weeping, contrition, self accounting, and soul-searching when I hear, “And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?”
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