The Carols of Christmas: Poems and Lyrics

by Rod McKuen

1960s icon poet/songwriter Rod McKuen's classic collection of Christmas poetry.

Genres: Poetry, Christmas

61 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1971

About the author

Rod McKuen (born April 29, 1933) was a bestselling American poet, composer, and singer, instrumental in the revitalization of popular poetry that took place in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Born Rodney Marvin McKuen in Oakland, California, McKuen ran away from home at the age of eleven to escape an alcoholic stepfather and to send what money he could to his mother. After a series of jobs, from logger, ranch hand, railroad worker to rodeo cowboy, throughout the west, McKuen began in the 1950s to excite audiences with his poetry readings, appearing with such well-known poets as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg; during this time, he often used the pseudonym "Dor".

McKuen moved to New York City in 1959 to compose and conduct for the TV show The CBS Workshop. By the 1960s he had achieved fame, far surpassing in sales the works of the Beat poets who preceded him. During the early 1960s he spent most of his time in France. This began his project to translate the work of legendary singer/songwriter Jacques Brel, into English. After Brel died he said, "As friends and as musical collaborators we had traveled, toured and written - together and apart - the events of our lives as if they were songs, and I guess they were. When news of Jacques’ death came I stayed locked in my bedroom and drank for a week. That kind of self pity was something he wouldn’t have approved of, but all I could do was replay our songs (our children) and ruminate over our unfinished life together."[1]

He became an icon across college campuses for his ability to capture in verse the feelings of anxiety, love, confusion, and hope that were common during the Vietnam era. His public readings had the drawing power of a rock concert.

McKuen's commercial success is unparalleled in the field of modern poetry. His poetic works have been translated into a dozen languages and sold over 65 million copies. Throughout his career he has continued to enjoy sell-out concerts around the world and appears regularly at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall.

Edward Habib's liner notes for McKuen's Amsterdam Concert album make the often-repeated claim that Rod McKuen is the best-selling and most widely read poet of all time. This claim is probably rooted in the fact that McKuen's works -- unlike those of Shakespeare or Dante Alighieri -- are copyrighted, and his total sales can be more readily quantified.

As a songwriter, he contributed to the sale of over 100 million records. His material has been recorded by such artists as Frank Sinatra (who in 1969 recorded A Man Alone, an album of McKuen's songs), Johnny Cash who (just before his death) recorded McKuen's "Love's Been Good To Me", Waylon Jennings, The London Philharmonic, Greta Keller, Perry Como, and Madonna. Perhaps his most well-known song is "Jean", recorded by Oliver in 1969 for the soundtrack to the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. In 1959, McKuen released a novelty single on the Brunswick label called "The Mummy". Bob Mcfadden and Dor was listed as the artist.. In 1961, he had a hit single titled "Oliver Twist".. McKuen has proven to be a prolific songwriter, penning over 1500 songs. He collaborated with a variety of internationally renowned composers, including Henry Mancini and John Williams, and a highly successful series of albums with Anita Kerr. His symphonies, concertos, and other classical works have been performed by orchestras around the globe. His work as a composer in the film industry has garnered him two Academy Award nominations.

Throughout his multi-award-winning career, McKuen paired his artistic endeavors with a spirit for social reform. Before a tour of South Africa in the 1970s, McKuen demanded “mixed seating” among white and black concert-goers, opening the doors for successful tours by a variety of African-American performers, including Sammy Davis, Jr. and Ella Fitzgerald. He also spearheaded efforts to raise AIDS awareness and fund charities for children and senior

Reviews

[John Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found another book to add to my collection of Rod McKuen memorabilia: books, records, tapes and articles. I was introduced to him in 1967 by a girlfriend in Colorado. She gave me a tape of Glenn Yarborough's album, "Listen to the Warm" and "Stanton Street and Other Sorrows." I was so enamoured with the words, I sought and and became elated with the writings of McKuen. I've been a fan ever since and look for his works at used book stores, record stores and yard sales.

At this holiday season of the year, "The Carols of Christmas" was appropriate and enjoyable.

SIMPLE GIFTS

Though the gift be small and simple
if the wish is wide,
just the simple gift of giving
makes you warm inside.

Though the thought is ever-fleeting
if a thought at all,
remember all the mighty big things
started out as small.

So if you've a gift worth giving
let it be your smile.
Let it be a kindly word
that makes the stranger stop awhile.

Let it be a simple gift then
if the wish is wide,
just the simple gift of giving
makes you warm inside.

Merry Christmas

[Manuel Sanchez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author was one of the best-selling poets in the United States during the late 1960s. Throughout his career, he produced popular music, spoken word poetry, film soundtracks and classical music earning two Academy Award nominations and one Pulitzer nomination.

This collection of Christmas poetry I choose as part of my seasonal reading, however only one poem in the collection really caught my attention, " Bethlehem, b.c." which I really enjoyed and hope to share at family holiday gatherings.