‘Tis the season for crazy schedules, harried shopping, and frenzied decorating, baking, and wrapping. Whew! I’m exhausted and it’s only December 10. Today, I’ll be squeezing into the junior high gymnasium bleachers along with hundreds of other proud parents to listen to the Wylie Junior High bands perform their Christmas concert. My youngest son will be on the trumpet playing catchy tunes like the Santa of Seville and African Bell Carol. All three of my kids are involved in band. No big surprise since my husband and I were both band nerds growing up.
Music is a big part of Christmas. I’ve switched out all the CDs in our van so that we have plenty of Christmas music to listen to as we drive around town. However, before things get too crazy, I thought it might be a good idea to remind ourselves of days when things moved at a slower pace. When a cowboy might sing his lonely Christmas songs to his horse out on the range or gussy himself up and take his best gal to a barn dance.
I found these two videos online and thought they’d be fun to share. Not your typical country music superstar’s renditions, but songs that harken farther back in time. Enjoy!
- What are your favorite Christmas songs?
- Any child or grandchild Christmas concerts on your holiday schedule?
For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. She is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.
Aspen Glow by John Denver- I’d highly recommend his Christmas album, ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS.
What Child Is This
Oh Holy Night
I don’t have any holiday concerts this year.
One of my son’s Florida grade school teachers annually performed Jimmy Buffett’s Christmas In the Caribbean complete with shorts and flip flops. Everybody joined in! It was usually on the coldest night in December too. I remember freezing!
Lyrics to CHRISTMAS IN THE CARIBBEAN
It’s Christmas in the Caribbean
Snowbirds fill the air
It’s Christmas in the Caribbean
Lots of presents everywhere
We don’t live in a hurry
Send away for mistletoe
It’s Christmas in the Caribbean
Got everything but snow
Lights are blowing in the palm trees
Stockings hanging from the mast
Santa riding on a dolphin
Don’t you want to make it, don’t you want to make it last?
It’s Christmas in the Caribbean
Snowbirds fill the air
It’s Christmas in the Caribbean
Lots of presents everywhere
We don’t live in a hurry
Send away for mistletoe
It’s Christmas in the Caribbean
Got everything but snow
Snow?
Suntanned children sleeping
Hoping Santa will come true
Christmas morning Marlin leaping
Oh it’s papa’s birthday, mister Buffet’s birthday too
It’s Christmas in the Caribbean
Snowbirds fill the air
It’s Christmas in the Caribbean
Good feelings everywhere
We don’t live in a hurry
Send away for mistletoe
It’s Christmas in the Caribbean
Got everything but snow
Christmas in the Caribbean
Got everything but snow
I can just hear the Jamaican beat. 🙂 And I LOVE the visual of Santa Riding a dolphin. Perfect! Thanks for sharing, Laurie.
Seeing this song above, Christmas in the Caribbean, makes me wish for a tropical getaway. I have always wanted to do a Christmas vacation. We don’t have a lot going on around here. My husband and I both have really small families in the area. So, there are no children or schools to go to. The only party we go to is the one for his job (which was last Sunday).
We can be like the birds that fly south for the winter. 🙂
I often wonder how drastically my life will change when I no longer have my kids at home and all their activities to keep me busy, Janine. Sometimes I long for the break, but other times I wonder if life will seem too calm. Maybe I can get a few to live close to home so I can stay involved in their family activities. My husband’s parents are now in town, so they will be at the Christmas concert this afternoon as well.
Hmmm…I’m sentimental, so I always like, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”
We have “Winter Bash” parties now. I miss the ol’ Christmas Pageants!
I love that song, Sherri. Of course, there are very few Christmas carols that I don’t love. 🙂
And I’m with you on the Christmas Pageants. Bring ’em back!
oh yes,with 13 grandchildren,there are always school musicals at this time of year,,and I love going to watch them and the look on their faces when they see Mamaw and Grampa sitting in the audience,,and my favorite song is Mary Did you know
Wonderful, Vickie!
Oh, and I ADORE Mary Did You Know. I still remember the first time I heard it. I think I cried. The words are just so beautiful, and as a mother it brings out all those emotions. Just imagine the wonder of holding a helpless babe who is also the Great I Am. Amazing!
Awesome post, Karen! And have fun as a proud parent! As a matter of fact, our three-year old grandson will be singing in church on Sunday morning. Fingers crossed LOL. Right now I am in love with Hallelujah, Christmas version by Cloverton…it’s been all over FB but might be offline now due to some whining by Sony. I’ve been singing it in my head for days. Have fun at the concert…me I’m off to a mammogram. Ugh. xoxox
Hope your little guy nails his song, Tanya. I’m sure at 3 years old, the cute factor will cover over any missed words or notes. 🙂
Attended our youngest grand daughter’s concert last night via the internet. The high school did a live stream. Such a joy since I was unable to attend due to a cold.
White Christmas continues to be my favorite Christmas song as well as my favorite movie!
How wonderful that you were able to watch in online, Connie! That’s fabulous that the school had a live feed. Love it.
And there’s nothing more classic than White Christmas, especially when Bing Crosby sings it. No one does it better than Bing. 🙂
I’ve always enjoyed “I’ll be Home for Christmas” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” but my all time favorite is “What Child is This.”
All good ones, but of those three, I’d pick “What Child Is This” too. There’s something about song in minor keys that I really love. They just sound more meaningful for some reason. “I Wonder as I Wander” is another Christmas carol in a minor key that I love.
Our grandson had his music recital last Sunday. The music shop does violin, piano, guitar, and mandolin lessons. He does all, but mandolin is his favorite. He is one of the senior students, so #38 of 40 players. He did a duet with a girl playing violin. It is cute, but you need to sit through all the little ones who have been playing for a few months or a year or so. Reminded me why my parents made me quit vilim lessons after only a few months. It is good practice for them to be playing in front of an audience even as beginners.
My favorite Christmas songs are Carol of the Bells, Mary Did You Know, What Child is This, and I’ll Be Home For Christmas.
Sometimes it tough to sit through all the screeches of the little ones, but I bet your grandson’s performance made it all worthwhile. 🙂
My new favorite is called A Country Boy For Christmas by Kira Isabella.! It’s awesome!
I haven’t heard that one yet, June. It definitely sounds like one I’d like. I’ll need to look it up online. 🙂