Tag: carols

  • Favorite Christmas song lyrics, ranked

    I’m terrible at remembering lyrics. Even for favorite songs I’ve heard dozens of times. It’s an annoying deficiency when I try to sing along as so often I end up having to mumble certain lines.

    But now, my yearly Christmas music binge in progress, I’ve started paying attention to the lyrics that have peaked my interest over the years. A phrase, a couplet, a stanza—whatever somehow embodies the Christmas season with lyrical grace.

    So, to separate the cookies from the coal, here are my top 20 Christmas lyrics:

    20.
    Oh the weather outside is frightful
    But the fire is so delightful
    And since we’ve no place to go
    Let it snow!
    — 
    “Let It Snow”

    19.
    The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night

    He will bring us goodness and light
    — “Do You Hear What I Hear”

    18.
    Deck the halls with mistletoe

    Let all your heavy burdens go
    Up the chimney in a cloud of smoke
    The fire’s burning bright
    — “Merry Christmas, Here’s to Many More” by Relient K

    17.
    It’s that time of year

    When the world falls in love
    Every song you hear seems to say
    “Merry Christmas
    May your new year’s dreams come true”
    — “The Christmas Waltz”

    16.
    Then comes that big night

    Giving the tree the trim
    You’ll hear voices by starlight
    Singing a Yuletide hymn
    — “Mistletoe and Holly”

    15.
    Later on we’ll conspire

    As we dream by the fire
    To face unafraid
    The plans that we’ve made
    Walking in a winter wonderland

    — “Winter Wonderland”

    14.
    These wonderful things are the things

    We remember all through our lives
    — “Sleigh Ride”

    13.
    May your days be merry and bright

    And may all your Christmases be white
    — “White Christmas”

    12.
    Light and life to all he brings

    Risen with healing in his wings
    — “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

    11.
    Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

    The silent stars go by
    Yet in thy dark streets shineth
    The everlasting Light
    The hopes and fears of all the years
    Are met in thee tonight
    — “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

    10.
    A thrill of hope
    The weary world rejoices
    For yonder breaks
    A new glorious morn

    — “O Holy Night”

    9.
    Faithful friends who are dear to us

    Gather near to us once more
    — “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

    8.
    Snowflakes a-fallin’

    My old heart’s a-callin’
    Tall pines a-hummin’
    Christmas Time’s a-comin’
    — “Christmas Time’s A-Comin’”

    7.
    Radiant beams from thy holy face

    With the dawn of redeeming grace
    — “Silent Night”

    6.
    Repeat the sounding joy

    — “Joy to the World”

    5.
    But what is this music

    That falls on my ear
    It’s the very first snowfall
    Of a very long year
    — “First Snowfall” by Over the Rhine

    4.
    Angels we have heard on high

    Sweetly singing o’er the plains
    And the mountains in reply
    Echoing their joyous strains
    — “Angels We Have Heard On High”

    3.
    Christmas Eve will find me

    Where the love-light gleams
    — “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”

    2.
    Like the petals in our pockets

    May we remember who we are
    Unconditionally cared for
    By those who share our broken hearts
    — “Snow” by Sleeping at Last

    1.
    Oh tidings of comfort and joy

    — “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”

    With special mention to:

    We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
    For auld lang syne
    — “Auld Lang Syne”

    Yes, it’s not really a Christmas song, but it’s in It’s A Wonderful Life and it’s the song I want played at my funeral, so it gets grandfathered in.