Tag Archives: songs

The twelfth song of Christmas: Wonder and hope

One of the great things about Christmas is being grateful for everything we have. Another great thing is acknowledging what we don’t have, and resolving ourselves to strive for it. I’m not talking about gifts, I’m talking about ideals. Things … Continue reading

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The eleventh song of Christmas: Miller’s tale

With the whirlwind that today and tonight are going to be, I chose a song that’s simple and pretty, and perfectly captures the tone of Christmas Eve (once all of the commitments are over). It has one verse, sung a … Continue reading

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The tenth song of Christmas: Annunciation enunciation

Growing up Catholic in non-Catholic schools in the South, I heard all of the comments. Their families are huge! Their kids go to “Sunday school” on Wednesday afternoons! They have saints! They. Worship. MARY! That last bit isn’t true, by … Continue reading

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Interlude 3: And the children shall lead?

The final interlude concerns a group of people who aren’t disenfranchised from Christmas one bit; in fact, the holiday is considered by many to be “just for them.” Children win at Christmas, hands down. But for all that, they’re somewhat … Continue reading

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The ninth song of Christmas: Can’t polka hole in this one

If December’s weeknights belonged to Mom and Nanny and candlelight reverence, its Sunday afternoons belonged to Dad and goofy tunes by sunlight. That’s when we pulled a different set of albums from the stack, listening to big bands being a … Continue reading

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The eighth song of Christmas: No words

It was the first and only time I lived alone. I’d graduated from college in spring of the previous year and accepted a job I didn’t want, out of sheer desperation. They began flying me to Raleigh, NC to work … Continue reading

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The seventh song of Christmas: A white trash Christmas

If the subtitle grabbed your attention and raised any hackles, know that I used it ironically. I don’t like the phrase “white trash” for two reasons. First, the qualifier “white” implies that “trash” by itself is black, and I don’t … Continue reading

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The sixth song of Christmas: Percussive reverence

During those dark December evenings playing Christmas songs in the living room with Mom and Nanny, there would come an inevitable moment when a sussurant, steady, chanted beat would begin from the radio’s single speaker. If we’d been talking, we’d … Continue reading

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The fifth song of Christmas: How the workshop was unionized

One of the many things I love about Barenaked Ladies (please note the uppercase letters; in this instance, it’s a proper noun rather than a common one) is their knack for creating humor in banality, without having to write about … Continue reading

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The fourth song of Christmas: The King’s blues

I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of Elvis Presley, but he does have a few hits that I enjoy, including several Christmas songs. I’m out of my league trying to write about him, but his particular vocal style — one … Continue reading

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