One of my Christmas favorites is O, Holy Night.
“Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, ‘til he appeared, and the soul felt its worth. The thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn”
Not a mention of Santa Claus in it, no jingling bells, no snow or snowmen, no mention of Christmas having a color, blue or white, no grandma, or anyone else, being run over by a reindeer. No reindeer! No, this is just (just!) a song about Christmas, the real Christmas before that other Christmas came along. A Christmas where, in the “sin and error,” in the “pining,” in the “weary world” we pause, adjust our focus, take a deep breath or two (or more), and “rejoice” at the thought of a “new and glorious morn.” Holy indeed!
If there is a better string of words put to music I can’t think of it. Though written in the 1800s, it speaks to today, it speaks to tomorrow, and always will. “The thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” Merry Christmas!
It occurs to me... 