Christ-mas Is Now Drawing Near At Hand

Christ-mas is now drawing near at hand
Come serve the Lord and be at His command
And God a portion for you will provide
And give a blessing to your soul besides

Down in the garden where flowers growing ranks
Down on your bended knees and give the Lord thanks
Down on your knees and pray both night and day
Leave off your sins and live fro' pray tae pray

So proud and lofty is some sort of sin
Which many take delight and pleasure in
Whose conversation God doth smirch as lie
And yet He shakes His sword before He stri'

So proud and lofty do some people go
Dressing themselves like players in a show
They patch and paint and dress with idle stuff
As if God had not made 'em fine enough

Even little children learn to curse and swear
And can't rehearse one word of godly prayer
Oh teach them better, oh teach them to rely
On Christ the sinner's friend who reigns on high





Christ-mas Dinner

And it came to pass on a Christ-mas evening
While all the doors were shuttered tight
Outside standing, lonely boy-child
Cold and shivering in the night

On the street, every window
Save but one, was gleaming bright
And to this window walked the boy-child
Peeking in saw, candle light

Through other windows he had looked at turkeys
Ducks and geese, cherry pies
But through this window saw a gray-haired lady
Table bare and tears in her eyes

Into his coat reached the boy-child
Knowing well there was little there
He took from his pocket,
his own Christ-mas dinner
A bit of cheese, some bread to share

His outstretched hands
held the food and they trembled
As the door, it opened wide
Said he, Would you share with me Christ-mas dinner
Gently said she, Come inside

The gray-haired lady brought forth to the table
Glasses two and her last drop of wine
Said she, Here's a toast to everyone's Christ-mas
and especially, yours and mine

And it came to pass on that Christ-mas evening
While all the doors were shuttered tight
That in that town, the happiest Christ-mas
Was shared by candle light.





The Christ-mas Song



Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule-tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

Everybody knows a turkey
and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.

They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys
and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if reindeer
really know how to fly.

And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said
many times, many ways
Merry Christ-mas to you.





Christ-mas Mem'ries

Singing carols, stringing popcorn, making footprints in the snow;
mem'ries, Christ-mas mem'ries they're the sweetest ones I know.

Cookies baking in the kitchen, cards and ribbons ev'ry where;
frosty Christ-mas mem'ries float like snowflakes in the air.

And oh, the joy of waking Christ-mas morning, the fam'ly 'round the tree;
we had a way of making Christ-mas morning as merry as can be.
I close my eyes and see shiny faces
of all the children who now have children of their own.
Funny but come December and I remember ev'ry Christ-mas I know.





Come Children, Raise Your Voices
Words & Music: Maud Gilchrist Sewall 1910 Maud Sewall was the daughter of hymnist Frank Sewall

Come, children; raise your voices!
The King of Love comes from above,
The heavenly host rejoices.

The Babe lies in the manger;
God seeks His own, by angels known,
But unto men a Stranger.

Though weak and helpless lying,
From Him is giv'n through earth and heav'n
New life, and peace undying.

But who on earth do greet Him?
A shepherd band with staff in hand
Sets forth by night to meet Him.

And lo! from eastward riding
The wise men three; the star they see,
And follow it confiding.

Oh, Hope of all the ages!
May we find grace to claim our place
Where shepherds kneel and sages.





Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a Child and yet a King.
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.





Coventry Carol



Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.
Lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.

O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day.
This poor youngling for whom we sing
By, by, lully, lullay.

Herod the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day.
His men of might, in his own sight,
All young children to slay.

That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever morn and day,
For thy parting neither say nor sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.





Deck The Halls With Boughs of Holly



Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
'Tis the season to by jolly,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la la, la la la la.





Ding Dong Merrily on High



Ding dong! merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.

Refrain

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.

Refrain





Do You Hear What I Hear?



Said the night wind to the little lamb
Do you see what I see?
'Way up in the sky, little lamb
Do you see what I see?

A star, a star
Dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear?
Ringing thru the sky, shepherd boy
Do you hear what I hear?

A song, a song
High above the tree
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king
Do you know what I know?
In your palace warm, mighty king
Do you know what I know?

A Child, a Child
Shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold

Said the king to the people ev'rywhere
Listen to what I say!
Pray for peace, people ev'rywhere
Listen to what I say!

The Child, the Child
Sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light





Far Far Away On Judeas Plains
John Menzies MacFarlane(1833-1892), 1869

Far, far away on Judea's plains,
Shepherds of old
heard the joyous strains:
Glory to God, Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest:
Peace on earth,
good-will to men;
Peace on earth,
good-will to men!

Sweet are these strains
of redeeming love,
Message of mercy from heaven above:
Glory to God, Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest:
Peace on earth,
good-will to men;
Peace on earth,

Lord, with the angels
we too would rejoice,
Help us to sing with
the heart and voice:
Glory to God, Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest:
Peace on earth,
good-will to men;
Peace on earth,
good-will to men!

Hasten the time when,
from every clime,
Men shall unite
in the strains sublime:
Glory to God, Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest:
Peace on earth,
good-will to men;
Peace on earth,
good-will to men!





Feliz Navidad
Jose Feliciano



Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero aņo y felicidad

Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero aņo y felicidad

I want to wish you a Merry Christ-mas
With lots of presents to make you happy
want to wish you a Merry Christ-mas
From the bottom of my heart

I want to wish you a Merry Christ-mas
With mistletoe and lots of cheer
With lots of laughter throughout the years
From the bottom of my heart

Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero aņo y felicidad





The First Noel



The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of that same star,
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

This star drew nigh to the northwest
Over Bethlehem it took its rest,
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

Then did they know assuredly
Within that house the King did lie:
One entered in then for to see,
And found the Babe in poverty:
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee,
And offered there in His presence
Their gold, and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven
and earth of naught
And with His blood
mankind hath bought.
Noel Noel Noel Noel!
Born is the King of Israel!





For Unto Us A Child Is Born
From Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born
Unto us a Son is given
And the government shall be upon His shoulder
And His name shall be called
Wonderful Counsellor
The Mighty God
The Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace





From Heaven Above To Earth I Come

From heaven above to earth I come,
To bear good news to every home,
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will gladly sing.

To you this night is born a Child
Of Mary, chosen mother mild;
This little Child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto us His Son hath given!
While angels sing with pious mirth,
A glad New Year to all the earth.





Frosty the Snowman



Frosty the Snowman
Was a jolly happy soul
With a corncob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal

Frosty the Snowman
Is a fairy tale they say
He was made of snow
But the children know
How he came to life one day

There must have been some magic
In that old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around

Frosty the Snowman
Was alive as he could be
And the children say
He could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me

Frosty the Snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said let's run
And we'll have some fun
Now before I melt away

Down to the village
With a broomstick in his hand
Running here and there all around the square
Saying catch me if you can

He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler stop

Frosty the Snowman
Had to hurry on his way
But he waved good-bye
Saying don't you cry
I'll be back again some day

Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Look at Frosty go
Thumpety thump thump
Thumpety thump thump
Over the hills of snow





Gentle Mary Laid Her Child
by Joseph S. Cook, 1919

Gentle Mary laid her Child
Lowly in a manger.
There He lay, the Undefiled,
to the world a stranger.
Such a Babe in such a place,
can He be the Savior?
Ask the saved of all the race
who have found His favor.

Angels sang about His birth,
wise men sought and found Him.
Heaven's star shone brightly forth
glory all around Him.
Shepherds saw the wondrous sight,
hear the angels singing.
All the plains were lit that night,
all the hills were ringing.

Gentle Mary laid her Child
lowly in a manger.
He is still the Undefiled,
but no more a stranger.
Son of God of humble birth,
beautiful the story.
Praise His name in all the earth.
Hail! The King of Glory!





Gloria, In Excelsis

Vivaldi



When Christ was born of Mary free,
In Bethlehem in that fair city,
Angels sung e'er with mirth and glee,

Chorus
In excelsis gloria,
In excelsis gloria,
In excelsis gloria,
In excelsis gloria.

Herdsmen beheld these angels bright-
To them appeared with great light,
And said, "God's son is born this night."

chorus

This King is come to save His kind,
In the Scripture as we find;
Therefore this song we have in mind:

chorus

Then, dear Lord, for Thy great grace,
Grant us the bliss to see Thy face,
Where we may sing to Thy solace:

chorus





Gloucestershire Wassail

Wassail, wassail all over the town!
Our bread it is white and our ale it is brown,
Our bowl, it is made of the good maple tree;
From the wassailing bowl we'll drink unto thee.

Come, butler, and fill us a bowl of your best,
And we hope your soul in Heaven may rest;
But if you do bring us a bowl of the small,
Then down shall go butler and bowl and all.

Come here, sweet maid, in the frilly white smock,
Come trip to the door and trip back the lock!
Come trip to the door and pull back the pin,
And let us jolly wassailers in.





Go Tell It On The Mountain



While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God send us salvation,
That blessed Christ-mas morn:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

When I am a seeker,
I seek both night and day;
I seek the Lord to help me,
And He shows me the way:
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

He made me a watchman
Upon the city wall,
And if I am a Christian,
I am the least of all.
Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.







1974