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capri0mniBecause the poll response, yesterday, was in favor. And it was interesting to actually go back and look for what I've written (the earliest, I never wrote down, until now)
Oh, the Holly and the Ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly tree bears the crown
Chorus:
Oh, the rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing all in the choir
Oh, the holly tree bears a blossom
As white as any milk
And the first light of this Yule dawn
is shimmering like the silk
(Chorus)
Oh, the holly tree bears a berry
As green as any grass
And the first light of this Yule dawn
Reminds us that winter will pass
(Chorus)
Oh, the holly tree bears a berry
As red as any blood
And as the year turns we all do vow
To use our lives for the good.
(Chorus)
(Repeat first verse)
This one is my most successful; after I posted it to Mudcat, it got printed in a San Francisco folkmusic club's newsletter, and one Baptist musician asked if I would be offended if he adapted the lyrics to be more Christian (Turnabout=Fairplay FTW!!)
Come gather together and sing with glad hearts!
Sing for the sun's return out of the dark.
The wheel, it is turning, the dance, it goes on.
So raise all your voices. Fill the air with sweet song!
Oh, sing with the Goddess: "The world is reborn!
Shining as bright as the very first morn."
The old year has ended. Let go of old wrongs,
And raise all your voices. Fill the air with sweet song!
Though winter will bring us cold nights and fierce wind,
Know by this dawning that hardship will end,
And like the sun's rays, may our hearts all grow strong.
Come raise up your voices -- fill the air with sweet song!
Give thanks to the Goddess, the sweet, living Earth --
Thanks for the cycle of death and rebirth.
She lives in our hearts and the love that we share.
So raise all your voices. Let sweet songs fill the air!
ABC Text (Copy and paste the bolded code into the text window, here, and click "submit." This will give you links to a .pdf of the score, and a midi file):
X:1
T:Come, Gather Together
C: Ann Magill
M:3/4
Q:1/4=120
K:C
E2G2C2|C2E2G2|G2A2G2|F2G4|C2D2E2|F2E2D2|C2D2E2|
D4E2|G2G2A2|G2F2E2|F3GA2|G4E2|D2C2D2|F2E2ED|
C2D2B,2|C7/2||
This one is one of my personal favorites; I based it on tidbits from that book Santa Claus: Last of the Wild Men. In my personal Yule Fanon, Furry Nicholas (Pelznichol) kidnaps the naughty children and takes them back to his workshop, and forces them to make the toys for all the good children for a year-- sort of like supernatural Juvie Hall. ;-P
Oh, the garlands are hung and the candles shine bright,
and we're gathered together on this joyful night.
In moments of quiet, if you will attend,
you will hear the glad ringing of bells on the wind
(Bells on the wind, bells on the wind)
You will hear the glad ringing of bells on the wind.
From his home far away, wild Nicholas flies,
and his whoops, and his hollers, they ring through the sky.
He's calling his coursers to speed on their way
With their hooves and horns flash-ing as they pull his sleigh.
(They pull his sleigh, they pull his sleigh)
With their hooves and horns flashing as they pull his sleigh.
Yes, old Nicholas laughs as he flies through the air,
for he's bringing the treasures he's gathered all year.
The gifts that he brings, oh, you know that it's true:
They reveal all the secrets he knows about you
(Knows about you, knows about you)
They reveal all the secrets he knows about you.
Oh, if you have been generous, and you've been kind,
Then the gifts that he brings will delight heart and mind -
To help keep you warm, and invite you to play
And to gladden your spirit through cold winter days.
(Cold winter days, cold winter days)
And to gladden your spirit through cold win-ter days.
But if you have been miserly, or you've been mean,
Then the fate meant for you will be harsh and be keen.
He'll bundle you up, in the back of his sleigh --
Tie you up in his sack, and he'll take you away!
(Take you away, take you away!)
Tie you up in his sack, and he'll take you away!
(Repeat first verse)
ABC Text (Copy and paste the bolded code into the text window, here, and click "submit." This will give you links to a .pdf of the score, and a midi file):
X:1
T:Bells on the wind
M:4/4
L:1/8=210
C:Ann Magill
K:Db
B,B,E2EEG2|GGE2DEG2|GGD2DDE2|EEG2EDE2|zGB2BBA2|
AAG2EGA2|GGE2EED2|B,DG2EDE2|zE2DB,D2z|G2EDE3z|
GGE2EED2|B,DG2EDE2|-E2z6||
This is my protest song against the saying that "It is better to give than to receive," because I know how insulting it feels to always be on the receiving end of charity (or even basic help). I also remember feeling depressed while writing this song (I think I was still coping with the fact that Shrub had just been re-elected), and so wrote it to cheer myself up.
This year is quickly fading in the night
With all the joys and sorrows that we knew.
A new year comes, with promises so bright.
And so, with hope, I give this gift to you.
I give this gift to you: a simple little thing.
And yet, I hope you feel the love that I've tied up with string.
There is a new light shining in the dark,
As fragile as a candle in the snow.
Yet one small flame can light ten thousand sparks;
When passed from hand to hand, the Light will grow.
I give this gift to you: a simple little thing.
And yet, I hope you feel the love that I've tied up with string.
It's easy, in the dark, to feel forlorn,
And lock my heart against the storms of Fate,
And dwell upon the sorrows I have borne,
Forgetting you, my friend, outside my gate.
You give this gift to me, a simple little thing
Yet, most of all, I feel the love that you've tied up with string.
So when I fear the cold and darkness, too,
And sorrows seem to gather 'round my door,
I'll open up my heart to love from you
And it shall light my way forevermore.
You give this gift to me, a simple little thing
Yet, most of all, I feel the love that you've tied up with string.
So hang your shining garland in the hall,
And let your candle burn against the night,
And celebrate the gifts from one and all:
Each tied with string, and wrapped in paper bright.
And so, we give our gifts, such simple little things,
Yet what we're really giving is our love wrapped up in string
(repeat first verse)
ABC Text (Copy and paste the bolded code into the text window, here, and click "submit." This will give you links to a .pdf of the score, and a midi file):
X:1
T:Simple, Little Things
C: Ann Magill
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q=240
K:C
EE2GG2|FE2DC2|DE4z|
w:This year is quick-ly fad-ing in the night
EE2DC2|DF2ED2|CD4z|
w:With all the joys and sor-rows that we knew.
GG2EE2|DC2DE2|AG4z|
w:A new year comes with prom-is-es so bright
FF2DD2|ED2DC2|B,C4z|
w:And so, with hope, I give this gift to you.
GG2EE2|DC3zC|D2EF2A|G4zG|
w:I give this gift to you: a sim-ple lit-tle thing, and
F2FE2D|C2B,C2D|F2DE2B,|C6||
w:yet, I hope you feel the love that I've tied up in string.
This is another dark one, at least, in terms of the tune it wanted to go with; I think I was having premonition of my father's cancer diagnosis, or something.
This one wanted to go with the tune from Gartan Mother's Lullaby (granted, the accents aren't quite the same, but there's not enough difference to write up a new ABC file).
The Tree of Life, it has roots so deep, they grow within our souls.
Its trunk, it is our spine and strength, and grace when trouble calls.
Oh, spirits fill_ its branches high and sing into_ the night
And every leaf_, so ever green is tipped with stars so bright.
Gather around this little tree, our Earthly kith and kin
Leave your worries in the past and let your joy begin
One year is over, and still the next, it is not yet_ begun
And so we gather around this tree while songs of hope are sung.
----
It was based on this poem I wrote for my mother, one Christmas (I think 1985 [?]):
I posted this last month, but for the sake of putting all my holiday songs together, for the record, I'm reposting. It's only tangentially Yuletide-themed, but it does mention winter, and the coming new year, so:
My Fair Ship
Time flows just like a the waves upon the sea
To distant shores not drawn on any chart.
My ship stands ready for to carry thee.
And in her hold lie treasures of the heart.
Chorus:
And it's “Once upon a time,”
Like a ship upon the sea,
With sails of woven rhyme.
So come journey, now, with me.
The glowing embers of the hearth
Shall be our guiding stars.
My ship is fair and in her hold
Lie treasures of the heart.
Her keel was laid ten thousand years ago,
And she has seen Time's current churned to foam;
Her keel was carved from Truth the heart doth know.
I trust my ship to see us safely home.
Chorus:
And it's “Once upon a time,”
Like a ship upon the sea (Etc.)
The artisans who built her gleaming hull,
They cut no cedar, ash nor mighty oak.
For these all fail in Time's unceasing pull;
My ship, instead, is built from words they spoke.
Chorus:
And it's “Once upon a time,”
Like a ship upon the sea (Etc.)
So weigh the anchor, and let us embark
We'll hoist the sails to catch the dreaming wind.
There's grand adventure in the swelling dark.
With “Once upon a time,” let us begin.
Chorus:
And it's “Once upon a time,”
Like a ship upon the sea (Etc.)
The earth is sleeping in the winter dark.
The old year's ending, and the new year's nigh.
So let us dream and watch the rising sparks,
And take a magic journey, thou and I.
Chorus:
And it's “Once upon a time,”
Like a ship upon the sea (Etc.)
To see a score (of the first verse and chorus), and to get a link to the midi, paste the abc text below into the text window at Concertina.net's ABC Convert-A-Matic and click [submit].
X:1
T: My Fair Ship
C: Ann Magill (CapriUni)
Q:1/4=100
M: 3/4
K: F
F F2 E D2|C D2 E F2|G C4 z|D G2 G F2|
w:Time flows just like|the waves u-pon|the sea|to dis-tant shores|
F D2 E F2| E F4 z|F A2 A B2|A G2 F G2|
w:not drawn on a|ny chart.|My ship stands rea|My ship stands rea|dy for to car|
G C4 z|C E2 E D2|C D2 E F2|E F4 z|
w:ry thee.|And in her hold|lie trea-sures of|the heart.|
C/2 C/2 F2 F G2|F E2 E/2 E/2 D2|C D2 E C2-|C z D G2 G|
w:And it's "Once u-pon|a time," like a ship|u-pon the sea_|with sails of|
F2 F E2 E/2 D/2|C2 D F2 E|F3 F A2 |A B2 A G2|
w:wo-ven rhyme, so come|jour-ney, now, with|me. The glo|wing em-bers of|
F G2 A B2|A G2 F E2-|E z E D2 C|D2 E F2 E|
w:the hearth shall be|our gui-ding stars_.|My ship is|fair, and in her|
D2 D C2 D|F2 E F3|]
w:hold lie trea-sures|of the heart.
Oh, the Holly and the Ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly tree bears the crown
Chorus:
Oh, the rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing all in the choir
Oh, the holly tree bears a blossom
As white as any milk
And the first light of this Yule dawn
is shimmering like the silk
(Chorus)
Oh, the holly tree bears a berry
As green as any grass
And the first light of this Yule dawn
Reminds us that winter will pass
(Chorus)
Oh, the holly tree bears a berry
As red as any blood
And as the year turns we all do vow
To use our lives for the good.
(Chorus)
(Repeat first verse)
This one is my most successful; after I posted it to Mudcat, it got printed in a San Francisco folkmusic club's newsletter, and one Baptist musician asked if I would be offended if he adapted the lyrics to be more Christian (Turnabout=Fairplay FTW!!)
Come gather together and sing with glad hearts!
Sing for the sun's return out of the dark.
The wheel, it is turning, the dance, it goes on.
So raise all your voices. Fill the air with sweet song!
Oh, sing with the Goddess: "The world is reborn!
Shining as bright as the very first morn."
The old year has ended. Let go of old wrongs,
And raise all your voices. Fill the air with sweet song!
Though winter will bring us cold nights and fierce wind,
Know by this dawning that hardship will end,
And like the sun's rays, may our hearts all grow strong.
Come raise up your voices -- fill the air with sweet song!
Give thanks to the Goddess, the sweet, living Earth --
Thanks for the cycle of death and rebirth.
She lives in our hearts and the love that we share.
So raise all your voices. Let sweet songs fill the air!
ABC Text (Copy and paste the bolded code into the text window, here, and click "submit." This will give you links to a .pdf of the score, and a midi file):
X:1
T:Come, Gather Together
C: Ann Magill
M:3/4
Q:1/4=120
K:C
E2G2C2|C2E2G2|G2A2G2|F2G4|C2D2E2|F2E2D2|C2D2E2|
D4E2|G2G2A2|G2F2E2|F3GA2|G4E2|D2C2D2|F2E2ED|
C2D2B,2|C7/2||
This one is one of my personal favorites; I based it on tidbits from that book Santa Claus: Last of the Wild Men. In my personal Yule Fanon, Furry Nicholas (Pelznichol) kidnaps the naughty children and takes them back to his workshop, and forces them to make the toys for all the good children for a year-- sort of like supernatural Juvie Hall. ;-P
Oh, the garlands are hung and the candles shine bright,
and we're gathered together on this joyful night.
In moments of quiet, if you will attend,
you will hear the glad ringing of bells on the wind
(Bells on the wind, bells on the wind)
You will hear the glad ringing of bells on the wind.
From his home far away, wild Nicholas flies,
and his whoops, and his hollers, they ring through the sky.
He's calling his coursers to speed on their way
With their hooves and horns flash-ing as they pull his sleigh.
(They pull his sleigh, they pull his sleigh)
With their hooves and horns flashing as they pull his sleigh.
Yes, old Nicholas laughs as he flies through the air,
for he's bringing the treasures he's gathered all year.
The gifts that he brings, oh, you know that it's true:
They reveal all the secrets he knows about you
(Knows about you, knows about you)
They reveal all the secrets he knows about you.
Oh, if you have been generous, and you've been kind,
Then the gifts that he brings will delight heart and mind -
To help keep you warm, and invite you to play
And to gladden your spirit through cold winter days.
(Cold winter days, cold winter days)
And to gladden your spirit through cold win-ter days.
But if you have been miserly, or you've been mean,
Then the fate meant for you will be harsh and be keen.
He'll bundle you up, in the back of his sleigh --
Tie you up in his sack, and he'll take you away!
(Take you away, take you away!)
Tie you up in his sack, and he'll take you away!
(Repeat first verse)
ABC Text (Copy and paste the bolded code into the text window, here, and click "submit." This will give you links to a .pdf of the score, and a midi file):
X:1
T:Bells on the wind
M:4/4
L:1/8=210
C:Ann Magill
K:Db
B,B,E2EEG2|GGE2DEG2|GGD2DDE2|EEG2EDE2|zGB2BBA2|
AAG2EGA2|GGE2EED2|B,DG2EDE2|zE2DB,D2z|G2EDE3z|
GGE2EED2|B,DG2EDE2|-E2z6||
This is my protest song against the saying that "It is better to give than to receive," because I know how insulting it feels to always be on the receiving end of charity (or even basic help). I also remember feeling depressed while writing this song (I think I was still coping with the fact that Shrub had just been re-elected), and so wrote it to cheer myself up.
This year is quickly fading in the night
With all the joys and sorrows that we knew.
A new year comes, with promises so bright.
And so, with hope, I give this gift to you.
I give this gift to you: a simple little thing.
And yet, I hope you feel the love that I've tied up with string.
There is a new light shining in the dark,
As fragile as a candle in the snow.
Yet one small flame can light ten thousand sparks;
When passed from hand to hand, the Light will grow.
I give this gift to you: a simple little thing.
And yet, I hope you feel the love that I've tied up with string.
It's easy, in the dark, to feel forlorn,
And lock my heart against the storms of Fate,
And dwell upon the sorrows I have borne,
Forgetting you, my friend, outside my gate.
You give this gift to me, a simple little thing
Yet, most of all, I feel the love that you've tied up with string.
So when I fear the cold and darkness, too,
And sorrows seem to gather 'round my door,
I'll open up my heart to love from you
And it shall light my way forevermore.
You give this gift to me, a simple little thing
Yet, most of all, I feel the love that you've tied up with string.
So hang your shining garland in the hall,
And let your candle burn against the night,
And celebrate the gifts from one and all:
Each tied with string, and wrapped in paper bright.
And so, we give our gifts, such simple little things,
Yet what we're really giving is our love wrapped up in string
(repeat first verse)
ABC Text (Copy and paste the bolded code into the text window, here, and click "submit." This will give you links to a .pdf of the score, and a midi file):
X:1
T:Simple, Little Things
C: Ann Magill
M:3/4
L:1/8
Q=240
K:C
EE2GG2|FE2DC2|DE4z|
w:This year is quick-ly fad-ing in the night
EE2DC2|DF2ED2|CD4z|
w:With all the joys and sor-rows that we knew.
GG2EE2|DC2DE2|AG4z|
w:A new year comes with prom-is-es so bright
FF2DD2|ED2DC2|B,C4z|
w:And so, with hope, I give this gift to you.
GG2EE2|DC3zC|D2EF2A|G4zG|
w:I give this gift to you: a sim-ple lit-tle thing, and
F2FE2D|C2B,C2D|F2DE2B,|C6||
w:yet, I hope you feel the love that I've tied up in string.
This is another dark one, at least, in terms of the tune it wanted to go with; I think I was having premonition of my father's cancer diagnosis, or something.
This one wanted to go with the tune from Gartan Mother's Lullaby (granted, the accents aren't quite the same, but there's not enough difference to write up a new ABC file).
The Tree of Life, it has roots so deep, they grow within our souls.
Its trunk, it is our spine and strength, and grace when trouble calls.
Oh, spirits fill_ its branches high and sing into_ the night
And every leaf_, so ever green is tipped with stars so bright.
Gather around this little tree, our Earthly kith and kin
Leave your worries in the past and let your joy begin
One year is over, and still the next, it is not yet_ begun
And so we gather around this tree while songs of hope are sung.
----
It was based on this poem I wrote for my mother, one Christmas (I think 1985 [?]):
Walk with caution around this tree
whose root reach deep within us all.
Dance with grace around this tree
whose trunk is our spine and our strength.
Laugh with humor around this tree
whose branches are filled with spirits singing
like so many birds in the spring.
Love this tree.
Learn its songs.
Taste its fruits.
Fall asleep in its shade.
Build a treehouse as high as you can
And invite everyone to tea.
There's room enough.
I posted this last month, but for the sake of putting all my holiday songs together, for the record, I'm reposting. It's only tangentially Yuletide-themed, but it does mention winter, and the coming new year, so:
My Fair Ship
Time flows just like a the waves upon the sea
To distant shores not drawn on any chart.
My ship stands ready for to carry thee.
And in her hold lie treasures of the heart.
Chorus:
And it's “Once upon a time,”
Like a ship upon the sea,
With sails of woven rhyme.
So come journey, now, with me.
The glowing embers of the hearth
Shall be our guiding stars.
My ship is fair and in her hold
Lie treasures of the heart.
Her keel was laid ten thousand years ago,
And she has seen Time's current churned to foam;
Her keel was carved from Truth the heart doth know.
I trust my ship to see us safely home.
Chorus:
And it's “Once upon a time,”
Like a ship upon the sea (Etc.)
The artisans who built her gleaming hull,
They cut no cedar, ash nor mighty oak.
For these all fail in Time's unceasing pull;
My ship, instead, is built from words they spoke.
Chorus:
And it's “Once upon a time,”
Like a ship upon the sea (Etc.)
So weigh the anchor, and let us embark
We'll hoist the sails to catch the dreaming wind.
There's grand adventure in the swelling dark.
With “Once upon a time,” let us begin.
Chorus:
And it's “Once upon a time,”
Like a ship upon the sea (Etc.)
The earth is sleeping in the winter dark.
The old year's ending, and the new year's nigh.
So let us dream and watch the rising sparks,
And take a magic journey, thou and I.
Chorus:
And it's “Once upon a time,”
Like a ship upon the sea (Etc.)
To see a score (of the first verse and chorus), and to get a link to the midi, paste the abc text below into the text window at Concertina.net's ABC Convert-A-Matic and click [submit].
X:1
T: My Fair Ship
C: Ann Magill (CapriUni)
Q:1/4=100
M: 3/4
K: F
F F2 E D2|C D2 E F2|G C4 z|D G2 G F2|
w:Time flows just like|the waves u-pon|the sea|to dis-tant shores|
F D2 E F2| E F4 z|F A2 A B2|A G2 F G2|
w:not drawn on a|ny chart.|My ship stands rea|My ship stands rea|dy for to car|
G C4 z|C E2 E D2|C D2 E F2|E F4 z|
w:ry thee.|And in her hold|lie trea-sures of|the heart.|
C/2 C/2 F2 F G2|F E2 E/2 E/2 D2|C D2 E C2-|C z D G2 G|
w:And it's "Once u-pon|a time," like a ship|u-pon the sea_|with sails of|
F2 F E2 E/2 D/2|C2 D F2 E|F3 F A2 |A B2 A G2|
w:wo-ven rhyme, so come|jour-ney, now, with|me. The glo|wing em-bers of|
F G2 A B2|A G2 F E2-|E z E D2 C|D2 E F2 E|
w:the hearth shall be|our gui-ding stars_.|My ship is|fair, and in her|
D2 D C2 D|F2 E F3|]
w:hold lie trea-sures|of the heart.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-12-04 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-04 08:10 pm (UTC)I have sung them out loud, though, while puttering around the house. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2008-12-07 01:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-07 05:03 am (UTC)