Christmas songs with lyrics that come close to Orthodoxy

[GregConstantine]

With Christmas coming up soon, Christmas songs and hymns are all around us. It got me thinking about how some come close to expressing some aspect of Orthodox theology. I thought to start a tread where we can post the songs/hymns and their lyrics. One that I thought of, which is not a song anyone sings on a regular basis. It's by Amy Grant called "The Christmas Hymn." It comes from a really old Amy Grant Christmas album.

"Praise to God whose love was shown
Who sent his Son to earth
Jesus left his rightful throne
Became a man by birth

The virgin's baby son
All creation praised Him
God incarnate come
Come to Bethlehem

Still a higher call had He
Deliverance from our sins
Come to set all people free
From Satan's hold within

For by the sin of man, we fell
By the Son of God
He crushed the power of Hell
Death we fear no more

Now we stand with strength, with power
The sons of God on earth
Faithful to the final hour
Christ's righteousness our worth

And now all praise is given
For the babe, the Son
The Savior King is risen
Christ is Lord indeed

For the babe, the Son
The Savior King is risen
Christ is Lord indeed"

 

[ArmyMatt]

I love how Do You Hear what I Hear has all of Creation realizing the birth of the Savior.

Said the night wind to the little lamb,
do you see what I see
Way up in the sky, little lamb,
do you see what I see
A star, a star, dancing in the night
With a tail as big as a kite
With a tail as big as a kite

Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy,
do you hear what I hear
A song, a song, high above the trees
With a voice as big as the sea
With a voice as big as the sea

Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king,
do you know what I know
In your palace warm, mighty king,
do you know what I know
A Child, a Child shivers in the cold
Let us bring Him silver and gold
Let us bring Him silver and gold

Said the king to the people everywhere,
listen to what I say
Pray for peace, people everywhere!
listen to what I say
The Child, the Child, sleeping in the night
He will bring us goodness and light
He will bring us goodness and light

 

[gzt]

Adeste fidelis, Personent hodie, Gaudete..., and Veni veni Emmanuel (though really more of an Advent hymn).

 

[ArmyMatt]

and this one hooked me after singing it in choir the other day

 

[gzt]

Also you can sing along to this:

 

[~Anastasia~]

Also you can sing along to this:

Actually ... I don't think I can ...

 

[gzt]

Well, the fiddly bit is tedious and hard, but the rest should come eventually if you put it on loop.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Well, the fiddly bit is tedious and hard, but the rest should come eventually if you put it on loop.

Yup, it's that part I meant. If I listened to it - ah, maybe a thousand times, - I could probably get it. The rest is nice.

 

[gzt]

Yeah, don't bother with the fiddly part.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Yeah, don't bother with the fiddly part.

Ah well ... I will probably have to try to approximate it, but that is good enough I think.

I miss singing Christmas songs as a group. There doesn't seem to be opportunity for that anymore (though our teens and children visited nursing homes and sang).

 

[Cappadocious]

A lot of people fuss over Hark the Herald Angels Sing because it has the line "veiled in flesh the Godhead be." However it doesn't say "veiled in flesh the Logos be" or "veiled in flesh the Son be" but refers to the divine nature. I think it's fine.

 

[~Anastasia~]

A lot of people fuss over Hark the Herald Angels Sing because it has the line "veiled in flesh the Godhead be." However it doesn't say "veiled in flesh the Logos be" or "veiled in flesh the Son be" but refers to the divine nature. I think it's fine.

I considered that one.

I keep trying to think of songs to post here, but either they ALL have problems or they are ALL pretty close (almost all - some really are a problem) ... and I'm not sure how closely to examine.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I tried yesterday googling ancient Christmas hymns - and apparently the 15th century qualifies as "ancient".

 

[Cappadocious]

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is another one.

We also have to differentiate between Orthodox hymns and acceptable carols. O Holy Night is the latter. Some would argue against it being the former.

 

[~Anastasia~]

O Holy Night is still my absolute favorite.

One lady in our parish mentioned especially liking "Mary did you know" ... which surprised me a bit.

 

[All4Christ]

Also you can sing along to this:

I have wanted to hold a Messiah Sing for the past few years, but never seem to get it scheduled in time! I love Handel's Messiah. Maybe next year it will finally work!

 

[Cappadocious]

O Holy Night is still my absolute favorite.

Mine too. Although Come O Come Emmanuel has special meaning for me.

 

[All4Christ]

I miss singing Christmas songs as a group. There doesn't seem to be opportunity for that anymore (though our teens and children visited nursing homes and sang).

I know what you mean...this year I don't know when I will be singing Christmas carols as a group since I will be up with my husband's family this year. I try to find ways to do it though most years!

One year I invited 7 women from our choir at church to my house...we practiced SSAA arrangements of traditional Christmas carols and went around to the houses around town. It was a great way to get some group caroling again! We also sing carols at our church as a congregation after Holy Supper. One of my Christmas traditions is singing Christmas carols after vigil with my family around the piano. Unfortunately, my husband's family doesn't do that, so I think we will be skipping it this year on Christmas Eve.

 

[gzt]

And of course Good King Wenceslas.

 

[Jesus4Madrid]

and this one hooked me after singing it in choir the other day

That was great. Celtic Christianity!