Read Me a Poem Sing Me a Song Showing 1,251-1,300 of 1,581

[Calathea]

Anybody else silently (or not so silently) singing along while reading the lyrics? ;-)

[Calathea]

Here's one that tends to make me go all sentimental:

Little Christmas Tree
(sung by Nat King Cole)

Little Christmas Tree
No one to buy you, give yourself to me
You're worth your weight in precious gold, you see
My little Christmas tree

Promise you will be
Nobody else's little Christmas tree
I'll make you sparkle, just you wait and see
My little Christmas tree

I'll put some tinsel in your hair
And you'll find that there's a strange new change
That you have never seen
I'll bring my boy a toy
He'll jump for joy
To see his bright new queen

With me you will go far
I'll show Saint Nick the tree you really are
And there'll be peace on Earth when Daddy lights your star
My little Christmas tree

With me you will go far
I'll show Saint Nick the tree you really are
And there'll be peace on Earth when Daddy lights your star
My little Christmas tree

You're big enough for three
My little Christmas tree

[Alison]

Johanna wrote: "WINTER WONDERLAND

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland

Gone away is the bluebird
Here to stay..."

I love this one. My dad was a good pianist and we always used to have family carol singalongs at Christmas when I was a kid. This was one of our most favourites. Very good memories. My dad was the very spirit of Christmas and I miss him so much.

[Anne]

I went to this page and got all these wonderful, Christmassy feelings. Thank you, everybody!

[Johanna]

Calathea wrote: "Anybody else silently (or not so silently) singing along while reading the lyrics? ;-)"

Yes! :-D

[Josh]

Calathea wrote: "Anybody else silently (or not so silently) singing along while reading the lyrics? ;-)"

YES. :-D

[Josh]

Calathea wrote: "Here's one that tends to make me go all sentimental:

Little Christmas Tree
(sung by Nat King Cole)

Little Christmas Tree
No one to buy you, give yourself to me
You're worth your weight in preciou..."

Awww. That is so sweet. I don't think I ever paid attention to the lyrics before.

[Josh]

Alison wrote: "Johanna wrote: "WINTER WONDERLAND

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland

Gone away is the blueb..."

Such wonderful memories. That's a gift right there, Alison.

[Johanna]

Calathea wrote: "Here's one that tends to make me go all sentimental:

Little Christmas Tree
(sung by Nat King Cole)

Little Christmas Tree
No one to buy you, give yourself to me
You're worth your weight in preciou..."

I've been listening to this tonight. Despite the lyrics Nat King Cole's voice is so soothing. And "soothing" in need right now. :-)

Thank you for posting this, C.

[Johanna]

Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "THE CHRISTMAS WALTZ

Frosted windowpanes
Candles gleaming inside
Painted candy canes on the tree

Santa's on his way
He's filled his sleigh with things
Things for you and for me

It..."

"This one is a new favorite of mine -- and can I say, for the record, it's a difficult song to sing. :-D "

I'm sure you can nail it. :-) I can imagine so well how amazing this would sound when sung by you and your sisters.

[Josh]

Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "THE CHRISTMAS WALTZ

Frosted windowpanes
Candles gleaming inside
Painted candy canes on the tree

Santa's on his way
He's filled his sleigh with things
Things for you a..."

As a matter of fact we sang it for a holiday show last year. :-D It's a tricky little thing! Especially the timing.

[Josh]

This is one of my very favorite Christmas songs, though it's not for every mood.

The Rebel Jesus

The streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
Giving thanks for all God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

They call him by the "Prince of Peace"
And they call him by "The Saviour"
And they pray to him upon the sea
And in every bold endeavor
As they fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worshipped in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why there are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

But pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgement
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In this life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure and I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus.

Jackson Browne

[Anne]

Josh wrote: "This is one of my very favorite Christmas songs, though it's not for every mood.

The Rebel Jesus

The streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' wind..."

This was new to me, thank you.

[Josh]

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas


Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on your troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on your troubles will be miles away

Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more

Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Have yourself a merry little Christmas now



Hugh Martin / Ralph Blane

[Johanna]

Josh wrote: "This is one of my very favorite Christmas songs, though it's not for every mood.

The Rebel Jesus

The streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' wind..."

What Anne said. I'm not familiar with this one. And I like it. Thank you for posting it.

[Johanna]

Josh wrote: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on your troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make t..."

This is one of my very favorites. With an appropriate dose of melancholy, I guess. :-) I love it.

[Josh]

Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on your troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Chri..."

Yes. This above all others I think of Adrien English. :-D

[Josh]

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by the choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny little 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 going to spy
To see if reindeer's 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 Christmas to you

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 Christmas to you, Merry Christmas to you




Songwriters: Mel Torme / Robert Wells

[Johanna]

Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Josh wrote: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on your troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a m..."

Yes. That's very fitting. :-D

[Loretta]

I just sang that to myself as I read :)

[Johanna]

Loretta wrote: "I just sang that to myself as I read :)"

Me too. It's impossible not to, I think! :-)

[Susan]

SANTA BABY

Santa baby, just slip a sable under the tree for me;
Been an awful good girl, Santa baby
and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a '54 convertible too, light blue
I'll wait up for you dear, Santa baby
and hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be just as good...
if you'd check off my Christmas list

Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that's not a lot
Been an angel all year; Santa baby,
so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa honey, there's one thing I really do need,
the deed - To a platinum mine, Santa baby
so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, I'm filling my stocking with the duplex, and checks
Sign your 'X' on the line, Santa cutie,
and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany;
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring
I don't mean a phone, Santa baby,
so hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry tonight


Songwriters: Joan Javits / Philip Springer / Tony Springer

[Johanna]

Susan wrote: "SANTA BABY

Santa baby, just slip a sable under the tree for me;
Been an awful good girl, Santa baby
and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a '54 convertible too, light blue
I'll wa..."

This one always makes me smile — and to sing along. It's precious, isn't it? :-D

[Susan]

Johanna wrote: "Susan wrote: "SANTA BABY

Santa baby, just slip a sable under the tree for me;
Been an awful good girl, Santa baby
and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a '54 convertible too, light..."

Yes, and sheer perfection when sung by the incomparable, Eartha Kitt. This song was written for her in 1953.

[Josh]

Susan wrote: "SANTA BABY

Santa baby, just slip a sable under the tree for me;
Been an awful good girl, Santa baby
and hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a '54 convertible too, light blue
I'll wa..."

I love that one! :-D

[Karen]

It's been fun reading this. I seldom listen to recorded Christmas music, but found the Frank Sinatra Christmas station on Pandora last year and one or two others I enjoy. I played a contemporary Christmas music station this afternoon in my classroom during "free choice Friday" end of day activities, not one I'd listen to much one my own, but the nine- and ten-year old girls were dancing and singing enthusiastically.

At our Christmas Eve gathering, my brother-in-law plays piano and whoever is inclined sings along. My voice is nothing to write home about, but (heathen tho' I be) I love to sing some of those older and darker religious carols. My favorite with a message of good will is this one:

Good King Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, gath’ring winter fuel.

“Hither, page, and stand by me, if you knowst it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain,
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes’ fountain.”

“Bring me food and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither,
You and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together,
Through the cold wind’s wild lament and the bitter weather.

“Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger,
Fails my heart, I know not how; I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, my good page, tread now in them boldly,
You shall find the winter’s rage freeze your blood less coldly.”

In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, while God’s gifts possessing,
You who now will bless the poor shall yourselves find blessing.

[Calathea]

Karen wrote: "It's been fun reading this. I seldom listen to recorded Christmas music, but found the Frank Sinatra Christmas station on Pandora last year and one or two others I enjoy. I played a contemporary Ch..."

Oh, I love this one, Karen. It's still relatively new to me, only got to know because it was on some miscellaneous Christmas CD a couple of years ago. I like that it's a whole story in a song (no idea about the historic/ relegious context though). :-)

Also, how wonderful that you guys have a teadition to sing together. Very joyful!

[Johanna]

Karen wrote: "It's been fun reading this. I seldom listen to recorded Christmas music, but found the Frank Sinatra Christmas station on Pandora last year and one or two others I enjoy. I played a contemporary Ch..."

Thank you for posting these lyrics. I've never given enough thought to them before! Lovely, indeed.

[Karen]

Calathea wrote: "Karen wrote: "It's been fun reading this. I seldom listen to recorded Christmas music, but found the Frank Sinatra Christmas station on Pandora last year and one or two others I enjoy. I played a c..."

Here's a pretty informative Wikipedia article about the 10th century Bohemian saint and the evolution of the carol: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Ki...

It's a 19th carol using a 13th century tune. The story is one of nobility giving alms on St. Stephen's Day despite the inclement weather. The analogy (not described in the article) is that the servant (the faithful) will be made safe following in the steps of the saint (following in the steps of Christ). Generosity to those in need, even when inconvenient or endangering, is a blessed action.

Loreena McKinnett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElO6a...

A friskier version by The Irish Rovers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5E8C...

[Josh]

Winter was Warm



Winter was warm
Summer soft that year
The winter was warm
Without a sign of frost
Like winter lost
Its way that year
It seems as I recall
No blossoms fell that fall
May didn't leave at all
Or did love paint an illusion?
Now trees with a sigh
Stand and shiver
while their dreams fall and die
And all my dreams are there
Wrapped up somewhere in summer leaves
Oh, what I'd give to be
To be in love again
This year the winter is cold
Will it ever be warm
As it was then?

(Of all things, I found this song while watching the Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.) :-D

[Susan]

PLEASE BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Bells will be ringing the sad, sad news
Oh, what a Christmas to have the blues
My baby's gone, I have no friends
To wish me greetings once again

Choirs will be singing Silent Night
Christmas carols by candlelight
Please, come home for Christmas
Please, come home for Christmas
If not for Christmas, by New Year's night

Friends and relations send salutations
Sure as the stars shine above
This is Christmas, yes, Christmas, my dear
The time of year to be with the one you love

Then won't you tell me, you'll never more roam
Christmas and New Year's will find you home
There'll be no more sorrow, no grief and pain
'Cause I'll be happy, happy once again

Oh, no more sorrow, no grief and pain
'Cause I'll be happy, Christmas once again

Written by: Charles Brown

[Calathea]

Susan wrote: "PLEASE BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Bells will be ringing the sad, sad news
Oh, what a Christmas to have the blues
My baby's gone, I have no friends
To wish me greetings once again

Choirs will be singin..."

There are some very heart-felt wishes in there. :-)

[Josh]

Susan wrote: "PLEASE BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Bells will be ringing the sad, sad news
Oh, what a Christmas to have the blues
My baby's gone, I have no friends
To wish me greetings once again

Choirs will be singin..."

I do like this one!

[Josh]

Walking in the Air
(From the film The Snowman)



We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm holding very tight
I'm riding in the midnight blue
I'm finding I can fly so high above with you
Far across the world
The villages go by like dreams
The rivers and the hills, the forests and the streams
Children gaze open mouthed
Taken by surprise
Nobody down below believes their eyes
We're surfing in the air
We're swimming in the frozen sky
We're drifting over icy mountains floating by
Suddenly swooping low
On an ocean deep
Rousing up a mighty monster from his sleep
And walking in the air
We're dancing in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly
We're walking in the air
We're walking in the air



Howard David Blake

[Susan]

Josh wrote: "Walking in the Air
(From the film The Snowman)



We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm holding very tight
I'm riding in the mid..."

Great imagery. Thanks, Josh.

[Karen]

Josh wrote: "Walking in the Air
(From the film The Snowman)



We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm holding very tight
I'm riding in the mid..."

We've had a videotape of this very sweet film since our daughters were children. The song is very prettily sung and it's nice to see how the lyrics hold up as poetry in their own right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubeVU...

[Calathea]

Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Walking in the Air
(From the film The Snowman)



We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm holding very tight
I'm ridi..."

Thank you so much for the link! How did I not know this?! The art is absolutely stunning and (for a hand-drawn animation) a ton of work must have gone in all the changing angles and perspective.

[Johanna]

Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Walking in the Air
(From the film The Snowman)

We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm holding very tight
I'm ridi..."

The Snowman is my Christmas movie tradition number one—It's been that about twenty (or even thirty?) years now. I love, love, love it.

[Josh]

Johanna wrote: "Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Walking in the Air
(From the film The Snowman)

We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm holding very ti..."

Somehow I suspected you knew and loved that film. :-)

[Josh]

Josh wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Karen wrote: "Josh wrote: "Walking in the Air
(From the film The Snowman)

We're walking in the air
We're floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly
I'm..."

The Thin Man is our holiday tradition movie. :-D

[Johanna]

Came across this tiny poem today. I quite like it.


LOVE POEM by Lemn Sissay

You remind me
define me
incline me.

If you died
I'd.

[Antonella]

Johanna wrote: "Came across this tiny poem today. I quite like it.


LOVE POEM by Lemn Sissay

You remind me
define me
incline me.

If you died
I'd."


Thank you. I had never heard of him.
And what a story his!
Lemn Sissay: ‘I would die if I didn’t live in the present’

[Johanna]

Antonella wrote: "Thank you. I had never heard of him.
And what a story his!
Lemn Sissay: ‘I would die if I didn’t live in the present’"

Oh wow. Thank you, Antonella, for sharing the article. I had never heard of him either.

I'll copy here one of the poems from the article, because I want it to be in this topic, too:

“How do you do it?” said night.
“How do you wake and shine?”
“I keep it simple,” said light.
“One day at a time.”

Now there's something to be considered a life motto... :-)

[Josh]

Johanna wrote: "Antonella wrote: "Thank you. I had never heard of him.
And what a story his!
Lemn Sissay: ‘I would die if I didn’t live in the present’"

Oh wow. Thank you, Antonella, for sharing the article. I h..."

Ha. I love this.

[Alison]

I love those. Thanks for posting. :)

[Antonella]

To my Daughter by Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996)

Give me another life, and I'll be singing
in Caffè Rafaella. Or simply sitting
there. Or standing there, as furniture in the corner,
in case that life is a bit less generous than the former.

Yet partly because no century from now on will ever manage
without caffeine or jazz. I'll sustain this damage,
and through my cracks and pores, varnish and dust all over,
observe you, in twenty years, in your full flower.

On the whole, bear in mind that I'll be around. Or rather,
that an inanimate object might be your father,
especially if the objects are older than you, or larger.
So keep an eye on them always, for they no doubt will judge you.

Love those things anyway, encounter or no encounter.
Besides, you may still remember a silhouette, a contour,
while I'll lose even that, along with the other luggage.
Hence, these somewhat wooden lines in our common language.




The Russian poet Iosif Brodsky, Nobel Prize in Literature in 1987, was persecuted for his poetry and his Jewish heritage and was exiled. In the USA he went on writing. This poem is dated just a few years before his death of heart attack. The dancer Michail Baryshnikov, who was a friend of him, commented that he was killing himself with chain smoking and drinking.

[Josh]

Antonella wrote: "To my Daughter by Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996)

Give me another life, and I'll be singing
in Caffè Rafaella. Or simply sitting
there. Or standing there, as furniture in the corner,
in case that life ..."

This bears thinking about.

[Antonella]

Gypsy music away from the beaten path, sung in romany and very poetic. Lyrics: Luminița Mihai Cioabă; music: Alban Usatch, Katja Šulc; voice: Katja Šulc.


O Brîsind Sîn Me / The Rain Is Me (2016)


kamav / I love
le jasva le brśindesqe / the rain’s tears
kana / when
pahoven ma’ śudrǎqe / they freeze me in a cold spell
ćajlǒn ma’ / I like
laqe phaka / their wings
kamav / I want
rǎte te xasardivav / to get lost in the night
te avav / to come
paśa ’ke gili / close to a song
vareso / something
kërël ma’ te akharav tut / makes me call you
nùma / yet
tu kërdǒsa kë naśti aśunes / you will pretend you can't hear me
and-e rǎt / in the night
avela te soves / you will go to sleep
thaj ći ʒanèsa / and you will never
ci-ëkhdata / know
kë / that
o brśind sïn me / the rain is me

[Jordan]

Oooohh, I like that one!

[Johanna]

Antonella wrote: "Gypsy music away from the beaten path, sung in romany and very poetic. Lyrics: Luminița Mihai Cioabă; music: Alban Usatch, Katja Šulc; voice: Katja Šulc.

O Brîsind Sîn Me / The Rain Is Me
(20..."

Thank you for including the link to the video, Antonella. Beautiful.