Deck the Halls with Buddy Holly
Dec 20th 2008
Sabrina JeffriesOn Writing! & Sabrina Jeffries
Some of you may remember our discussion about mondegreens last year. A mondegreen is when someone unknowingly mangles the words to a song, giving it alternate words (like “Bells on Bob’s tail ring). My husband found this hilarious page on snopes.com where they explain how the term came about and give a whole list of Christmas mondegreens.
But it occurred to me that the reason Christmas carols are so ripe for mondegreens is that many of them date back centuries, when the language was quite different. Or they refer to things like “chestnuts,” which you don’t find much in America. So that got me to wondering–why do we hold on to these old songs? There are new Christmas songs being written every day, yet some of us still love carols that are so ancient no one really knows all of what they mean.
It also made me wonder if I’m alone in loving the really old carols. I’m talking about rather obscure songs like “The Boar’s Head Carol” and “The Cherry Tree Carol,” both of which date to the 15th century. So here’s a little quiz:
- What are your favorite pre-20th century carols?
- What are your favorite modern carols or Christmas songs?
- Do you like the really old, Medieval carols?
- In general, which do you prefer, the modern hipper songs or the traditional carols (I like both)
- Do you have any fun Christmas mondegreens to tell us about?
42 Comments »
42 Responses to “Deck the Halls with Buddy Holly”
LisaK on 20 Dec 2008 at 5:28 am #
Okay, now I have to answer that from the German point of view because I don’t know any English speaking Christmas carols (old ones, I mean).
1. “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht” (I think you can translate it literally; “Silent Night, Holy Night”, isn’t it?), “Leise rieselt der Schnee”, “Kling, Glöckchen, klingelingeling” and many others. You might not know them, though.
2. I luvv “Fairytale Of New York” by Ronan Keating and Moira Brennan. And “All I Wand For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey.
3. Don’t know any, I have to admit. I’ll have to look for some…
4. I like both, too. While decorating the tree, I always listen to the modern ones. But on Christmas Eve, just before we open the presents, our in church, I prefer the old ones.
5. I can only think of one at the moment. In “Stille Nacht” there’s a line which says “…oh wie lacht…”, something like “…oh how he laughs…”. But in German, that’s a rather strange word order and when you don’t know the lyrics and only hear it, you might understand “Owi lacht”, “Owi laughs”, if you want to (that doesn’t make sense, I know, but that’s the core of the mondegreen). And one day, my grandfather said:
cont.
LisaK on 20 Dec 2008 at 5:30 am #
cont.
“Well, I really like that song. But can you tell me who that damned ‘Owi’ is?” At first, I didn’t really understand what he meant, but then I started laughing and couldn’t seem to stop. I’m not positive that I answered his question, though. Someone else must have done it. And the nice thing is: When my sister was very little and for the first time thought about what she sang, she asked me exactly the same thing.
Marie on 20 Dec 2008 at 7:31 am #
1. What are your favorite pre-20th century carols?
Hark the Herald
2. What are your favorite modern carols or Christmas songs?
All I want for Christmas is a Hippo
3. Do you like the really old, Medieval carols?
Yes, because I was in vocal for 4 years and thats all we were allowed to sing and so that hold a special spot in my heart
4. In general, which do you prefer, the modern hipper songs or the traditional carols (I like both)
traditional
5. Do you have any fun Christmas mondegreens to tell us about?
Nope, though. I was in 7th grade first time I heard, Jesus is come. Let’s think what a pre-teen would think about that one.
Kathy/Cookiedough on 20 Dec 2008 at 7:34 am #
I like a lot of pre 20th Century carols.
My friend used to sing with the Aeolian Singers and they performed a beautiful concert in a church one year. I’ve since found my favourite song that they had performed. called Dancing Day, it was written in 1833.
look it up. it’s really pretty.
The Huron Carol, Coventry Carol and Good King Wenceslas are favs. I also have a Baroque Christmas cd I listen to while I bake.
It’s not Christmas without singing along with the Muppets’ Christmas is Coming
or the Whoville rendtion of Welcome Christmas.
Kathy/Cookiedough on 20 Dec 2008 at 7:45 am #
and don’t get me started on how many times I’ve heard Jingle bells batman smells. I once made the mistake of letting a 10 yr old boy know that it annoyed me and everytime I sang Jingle Bells with his baby sisters, he’d yell it at the top of his lungs.
evlqn on 20 Dec 2008 at 8:12 am #
1 “Silent Night” in English or German, “Oh Christmas Tree” again in English or German. My grandfather was from Germany and when he came here with is mother at the age of 9 he brought a Stradivarius violin with him. He would sit for hours playing it and singing songs to us in German and those were his two favorites. My brother’s daughter plays it now. i always wanted the violin but it is better to be used and loved than put on a shelf somewhere. “Ave Maria”, “The First Noel”,”Oh Holy Night”.
2 “Silver Bells”, “White Christmas”, “I’ll Be Home For Christams”
3 Depends on my mood mostly.
4Again, depends on my mood.
ladydawgfan on 20 Dec 2008 at 8:51 am #
1. What are your favorite pre-20th century carols? Adeste Fideles, O come, O Come Emanuel, Silent Night, O Holy Night
What are your favorite modern carols or Christmas songs? Born is The Light of the World, Mary Did You Know, A Baby Changes Everything
Do you like the really old, Medieval carols? Yes.
In general, which do you prefer, the modern hipper songs or the traditional carols (I like both)? Traditional.
Do you have any fun Christmas mondegreens to tell us about? No, but I have a few questions. In the 12 days of Christmas, are the 6 geese laying 5 golden rings EACH or in total? And has anyone ever been hurt by the 10 Lords leaping the 9 Ladies dancing? Finally, why are the 8 maids milking the 7 swans? I don’t think they will have any luck!!
Louisa Cornell on 20 Dec 2008 at 9:30 am #
1. In the Bleak Midwinter, The Holly and the Ivy, I saw three ships, The Boar’s Head Carol. I could go on an on. I sang in madrigal groups so I LOVE the old traditional carols. The older the better!
2. White Christmas and when I am feeling really tacky – Grandma Got Runned Over by a Reindeer and the Twelve Redneck Days of Christmas.
3. I LOVE the old medieval carols.
4. I prefer the traditional carols. And I don’t like the jazzed up pop versions of many of the traditionals that are out now. O Holy Night does NOT need a hip hop beat!
5. My youngest brother was the worst to mangle a Christmas carol. “Sleep in heavenly peas?” “Hark Harold the angel sings.”
SheridanLA on 20 Dec 2008 at 10:22 am #
haha sleep in heavenly peas.. I love it.
1. pre 20th… Angels we have Heard on High, Carol of the Bells, We Three Kings.. I love how they sound when sung (well.)
2. Modern: Christmas Rapping by the Waitresses, Happy Christmas – John Lennon, Run Rudolph Run
3. I do, though I get confused as to what they say most of the time – pesky Latin.
4. I like a mix of all the songs. I wish there were more decent NEW songs written, seems everyone just regurgitates the old ones over and over – some really well, but still.. Mindy Smith did a cute CD of xmas songs – a few remakes, but mostly new songs. I like tossing it in the mix.
5. I don’t have any particular funny ones, but the more tipsy we all got on eggnog and mulled cider, the more of them there were
Gannon on 20 Dec 2008 at 10:23 am #
1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Lo How A Rose ‘Er Blooming, O Holy Night–I sang in a madrigals group in high school, so I developed a real love of old carols.
2. I love White Christmas and Santa Claus is Coming to Town
3. I absolutely love medieval carols!
4. I love traditional carols. They are definitely my favorite.
5. I can’t think of a mondegreen right now, but no doubt, I will later.
Deb Marlowe on 20 Dec 2008 at 10:25 am #
Fun topic, Sabrina!
1. Good King Wenceslas.
2. Holly Jolly Christmas. I have a thing for Burl Ives.
3. I like them when I’m in a quieter mood.
4. I like a mix of both. I am usually a traditional girl, but I really like the version of All I Want for Christmas that the little girl sings on Love Actually.
5. Nope, our funny one came from the Alphabet song
Sabrina Jeffries on 20 Dec 2008 at 11:04 am #
Lisak, LOVE the German mondegreen! That’s great.
Louisa and Gannon, I sang in madrigals groups in high school, too! I still love those tight harmonies. That’s one reason I’ve been fixating on Cherish the Ladies version of The Holly Bears a Berry. It’s vocally gorgeous.
Marie, had to laugh at your 7th grade view of that line.
Kathy, I’ll have to look up “Dancing Day.” I haven’t heard of that one. But one of my fave carols is The Poor Clares singing “Simple Gifts/Lord of the Dance.” I listen to it nearly every day during Christmas.
ladydawgfan, had to laugh about the 12 Days of Christmas. My husband loves “The 12 Yats of Christmas,” which is a New Orleans humorous take on Christmas having to do with those New Orleanians we call “Yats” because they say “Where y’at?” He watches it every year.
Kathy/Cookiedough on 20 Dec 2008 at 11:19 am #
I’ll go look up Simple Gifts/Lords of the Dance, Sabrina
Kathy/Cookiedough on 20 Dec 2008 at 11:21 am #
duh! I know that song!!!
I’ve always liked it but never knew the title
Kathy/Cookiedough on 20 Dec 2008 at 11:23 am #
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnPqM2e0kD8
here is a good version of Dancing Day on youtube
Sabrina Jeffries on 20 Dec 2008 at 11:26 am #
Deb, you know I’m with you on the Love Actually. That’s my other fave this Christmas–the soundtrack.
I guess I should answer my own questions, huh!
1. Favorite pre-20th century carols: Ah, there are so many! “Lo, How a Rose e’er Blooming,” Coventry Carol, “The Cherry Tree Carol,” “Gabriel’s Message” (I LOVE Sting’s version), “Patapan,” “Sans Day Carol” (the Holly Bears a Berry), “What Child Is This?”, “Christmas is Coming,” and “Children, Go Where I Send Thee.” I’m probably missing some.
2. Favorite modern Christmas songs? “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “Christmas” (by Blues Traveler), “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole (chestnuts roasting…), “Christmas Song” by Dave Matthews, “Oi to the World,” “Christmas in Hollis,” and several others.
3. Do you like the really old, Medieval carols? Absolutely. Even the ones in Latin.
4. I like a wide variety of Christmas music (except the Big Band stuff my dh loves). The “Very Special Christmas” series has introduced me to so many great Christmas songs. I listen to two of those albums ad nauseum during the holidays.
5. The only Christmas mondegreens I know are the ones linked above. If you haven’t checked the link out, you should!
Sabrina Jeffries on 20 Dec 2008 at 11:32 am #
Thanks, Kathy! I’ve never heard that one before! And that choir is fantastic. I love boy’s choirs.
“Lord of the Dance” is based on the Shaker dance song, “Simple Gifts.” I love the words of both. It’s a modern hymn, though, written by some guy in the 60’s.
Same thing for “Mary’s Boy Child,” another one I love, written by Jester Hairston in the 50s. (How I love Wikipedia!)
Karen Rose on 20 Dec 2008 at 12:15 pm #
1. pre-20th century carols? I had to look it up on Wiki to see if it was before 1900. O Holy Night is my favorite. Josh Groban (also my favorite) does an amazing job with this.
2. modern carols or Christmas songs? I love Doug and Bob McKenzie’s 12 Days of Christmas – and a BEER. Also, Twisted Sister recently did a wonderful 12 Days of Christmas rendition, full of spandex pants, skull earrings and Ozzy.
3. Do you like the really old, Medieval carols? No. Sorry. Can we still be twin sisters of different mothers, Sabrina?
4. In general, which do you prefer, the modern hipper songs or the traditional carols (I like both). I like the modern ones, but there is something quieting and respectful about the older ones, too.
5. Do you have any fun Christmas mondegreens to tell us about? As a kid, I always thought it was “Round Young Virgin.” She was pregnant, you know, no disrespect intended, so she was round in shape.
Versus “Round Yon Virgin” – gathering around the virgin, which is a slightly different meaning.
Karen Rose on 20 Dec 2008 at 12:17 pm #
PS – Every single time I hear “I’ll be home for Christmas” I sob like a baby.
SheridanLA on 20 Dec 2008 at 12:24 pm #
Karen R.. I LOVE the Bob and Doug Mackenzie version.. always makes me laugh. Coo loo coo coo coo coo COO COO. hahahah
Margaret on 20 Dec 2008 at 1:05 pm #
I don’t have an answer to all of the questions. I love the old songs but have no idea what a medieval one is or sounds like. Except for The Little Drummer Boy. I hate that one. It gets on my nerves for some reason.
I worked at the original Neiman-Marcus store in downtown Dallas for a few years. Each year, we would gather before store opening for an employee concert. I don’t recall any refreshments. It was on the main floor and cake/drinks could have made a mess.
The concerts were always great. But one singer stood out above all. A young African-American woman would sing “O Holy Night”. She was a contralto, I think. Neiman’s 1st floor was open all over with pillars. Lots of marble. The sound of her voice would just ring thruout the the store. Gave a body goosebumps. I’ve never heard the song sung better since. Not even Josh Groban. I always hoped she went on to better things. What a marvelous voice she had. 32 years later, I still remember her.
Deb Marlowe on 20 Dec 2008 at 1:24 pm #
Oh, yeah, love Adam Sandler’s Hanukkah song too!
Maureen on 20 Dec 2008 at 1:49 pm #
1. Joy to the World is my favorite.
2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bruce Springsteen
3. I do but I would have to be in the right mood.
4. I like both too.
5. I can’t think of any but I’m sure I’ve been guilty of getting the words wrong on many Christmas songs.
Janae on 20 Dec 2008 at 1:49 pm #
1. Hmmm, a favorite pre-20th Century Christmas song – all of them. I really like I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, What Child is This?, O Holy Night, to name a few.
2. It’s not Christmas until I hear Snoopy’s Christmas – tons and tons of childhood memories with that one. I, also, like The Christmas Song, White Christmas, and I’ll be Home for Christmas sung by Nat Cole, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, etc, because I love those renditions the most.
3. YES!
4. I like both, but I have to say, I’m with Margaret, I’m not a fan of The Little Drummer Boy.
5. My dd has a great one for Jingle Bells – the oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh part, except it’s so mangled that I have no idea what she’s saying.
dbrown3400 on 20 Dec 2008 at 1:54 pm #
1. Pre-20th century carols? “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, all versions, including the one by Bare Naked Ladies w/Sarah Mclachan; “What Child is This?” – love the Greensleeves melody played on a harpsicord; “Silent Night”; “O Come All Ye Faithful.” Anything played by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. Their music contains both pre-and post-20th century songs.
2. Modern carols or Christmas songs? “Merry Christmas, Darling” by the Carpenters, also their version of “Little Altar Boy,” the new Rascal Flatts a capella “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and so many more.
3. Do you like the really old, Medieval carols? Yes
4. Both. I don’t really care for the ones that are take-offs on songs, but give me any of the originals, traditional or modern. I LOVE Christmas music.
5. No mondegreens I can think of.
Sabrina Jeffries on 20 Dec 2008 at 2:29 pm #
Deb, I like the Adam Sandler song, too!
And y’all are giving me ideas–Donna, I’ll have to check out the Bare Naked Ladies w/Sarah Maclachlan song. I love both of those artists!
I have to say, I really do like hearing new renditions by rock stars. I love the James Taylor “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” for example. And Whitney Houston sings such a great version of “Do You Hear What I Hear” (another favorite).
Donna, I was just listening to that Carpenters album this morning on my way to the grocery!
Nicole Jordan on 20 Dec 2008 at 3:39 pm #
I like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”!
Seriously, my two fave carols are modern, Need a Little Xmas Now from Auntie Mame, and “Cristmas Is” from I don’t know where.
Do you mean to tell me Bob’s tails ring isn’t right??? I’ve been singing that my entire life.
Jane on 20 Dec 2008 at 3:51 pm #
1. “O Holy Night”
2. “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole and “Christmas Canon” by Trans Siberian Orchestra
3. Yes
4. I like both.
5. I always get the lyrics wrong with “The Chipmunk Song”
Sabrina Jeffries on 20 Dec 2008 at 4:30 pm #
Sorry, Nicole! “bells on bobtail ring” refers to a carriage horse that has been “bobtailed” (his tail cut short) to keep his tail from getting tangled up in the reins. They’re just calling the horse a bobtail and he has bells hanging on his harness. One of the later verses describes him as a “bob tailed bay.”
Tell me this, though, since you’re the horse person–wouldn’t bells drive a horse crazy?
Jingle Bells is older than I thought, too. It dates to 1857.
Kathy/Cookiedough on 20 Dec 2008 at 4:45 pm #
bells!! yesterday there was a Salvation Army guy collecting at the grocery store I popped into for a client. he rang that bell so loudly and for so long, Iwas tempted to ask him to stop. As I stood by the door getting ready to go out into the bitter-20C windchill, a clerk came and gave him hell for ringing it constantly.”Dude! you are driving me and the customers CRAZY!!!”
I laughed all the way out the door!
Kathy/Cookiedough on 20 Dec 2008 at 4:49 pm #
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ebA2ptx8bU
I heard this song on the radio this morning. an hilarious version of Feliz Navidad
Kay on 20 Dec 2008 at 5:19 pm #
1. What are your favorite pre-20th century carols? I love THE HOLLY AND THE IVY. The best version is by THE CHIEFTAINS.
2. What are your favorite modern carols or Christmas songs? THE CHIPMUNK CHRISTMAS SONG, and SANTA BABY, sung by Ertha Kit.
3. Do you like the really old, Medieval carols? I love them. We have a CD that I play in Christmas eve.
4. In general, which do you prefer, the modern hipper songs or the traditional carols? It depends on the mood. I like a mix.
5. Do you have any fun Christmas mondegreens to tell us about? Can’t think of one right now, my brain is addled by a nasty cold. My oldest son was done with it, so he shared it with me.
SuzyQ on 20 Dec 2008 at 5:54 pm #
1. Hark the Herald Angels Sing and the Hallelujah Chorus of Mendel’s Messiah. It’s not really a Christmas carol but I always think of it since we always sang this at the Christmas concert in high school.
2. Do You Hear What I Hear, All I Want For Christmas Is You, Jingle Bell Rock and so many more
3. Yes
4. I like a mixture of both.
5. Jingle Bells – “in a one horse sofa sleigh”.
Nicole Jordan on 20 Dec 2008 at 6:47 pm #
.”Dude! you are driving me and the customers CRAZY!!!”
I laughed all the way out the door!
That is funny, KathyCD. I would go insane hearing those bells all the time.
Thanks for the explanation, Sabrina! I guess I have been singing it the right most to of time.
And most horses can get used to just about any sound if they’re exposed to it in a non-threatening way. Bells are no big problem. Neither are jet engines zooming overhead or big trucks racing along the highway. It always amazes how horses can be trained to stand gunfire in battle. Then again, things like bikes or big blue plastic drums have scared my horses to death at times. *g*
Karen Hawkins on 20 Dec 2008 at 6:55 pm #
Oh, I AM a Lady Mondegreen. I get distracted during songs and never hear them all, so I just make up words. My daughter finds this very amusing and she’ll go, “Wait. Sing that part again.” And when I do, she’ll laugh and laugh. It’s sort of fun and now I sometimes just make up words to hear that laugh.
Nicole, I’ve always wondered about horses that were used for hurting and how they stood the gunfire. That explains a lot. I guess people are the same way — I live near a small airport (by choice — my guy has his pilot’s license, so it’s VERY handy) and I never hear the planes any more. Whenever someone mentioned them, I’m always shocked anyone notices because I don’t!
Sabrina Jeffries on 20 Dec 2008 at 7:41 pm #
Kay, what Chieftains album is that on? It’s not on the Bells of Dublin album, right?
Kay on 20 Dec 2008 at 9:12 pm #
Sabrina, It is THE BELLS OF DUBLIN. I love that CD.
Sabrina Jeffries on 20 Dec 2008 at 9:52 pm #
Do you mean “The Holly and the Ivy” or “The Holly Bears a Berry”? Because mine has the latter, not the former.
Claudia Dain on 20 Dec 2008 at 10:20 pm #
I totally blanked on this contest today! Too much pressure!
Yeah, total wuss.
Laurie G on 21 Dec 2008 at 5:02 am #
I love Ava Maria, What Child is This & Oh Holy Night. Jethro Tull has a X-mas album filled with oldies GreensleevesHolly HeraldGod rest ye Merry Gentleman,Holly Herald,and We Three Kings. Love Fur Elise and Gloria.
Aspen Glow By John Denver is a new fave. Along with Raffi’s Up on the Rooftop & Must Be Santa. Moody Blues offer Don’t Need a reindeer, December Snow, In the Quiet of Christmas Morning … Finally, The Yuppers -30 point buck is hilarious!!!
I do like the medieval versions.
I prefer a bit of everything.
Here we go a wassaling! Loved A Clammation Christmas’s version with it’s numerous variations of the song’s lyrics.
elsiehogarth on 21 Dec 2008 at 1:23 pm #
I just love Christmas music. There are 3 radio stations that have been playing holiday music since the week before Thanksgiving and I have them on all the time in the car. The holiday music will end the day after Christmas and go back to their regular format.
1. I love Christmas music sung, in Latin, and my favorite was one that was featured in the Monkees holiday episode called “Riu Chiu” it was sung by Micky Dolenz. I also like Adeste Fideles(O Come o Ye Faithful)/First Noel, Silent Night and O Holy Night.
2. Winter Wonderland by Annie Lennox and So this is Christmas by John Lennon
3. I love Medieval carols, Gregorian chants etc.
4. I also like both. My favorites are: Blue Christmas-Elvis; Jungle Bell Rocks-Bobby Helm, J-I-N-G-L-E Bells-Frank Sinatra; Christmas Song/Away in a Manger-Nat King Cole; Rudolph-Gene Autry; Holly Jolly Christmas/Silver & Gold-Burl Ives; This Christmas-Chris Brown; Baby, it’s Cold Outside-Dean Martin; Mele Kalikimaka-Don Ho; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas-Mel Torme and It’s Beginning to look a Lot Like Christmas-Bing Crosby.
Angela on 22 Dec 2008 at 7:30 am #
I sing mostly old christmas carols (in church choir)
I like The Star Carol (newer carols)
I like traditional settings of carols. Although I play Mannheim Steamroller christmas cd’s. I also play Enya and Jim Brickman christmas cd’s.
Prefer not to hear people singing as so many just mangle the carols to death.
NO country-western singers singing christmas.
Favs: Charlie Brown Christmas. In the Bleak Midwinter, O Holy Night.