Finding Christmas

Okay, I played a Christmas concert today - which was fabulous - and worked the ASO's Magic of Christmas performance - Christmas is starting to find me...

And - in honor of Christmas - I once again begin my attempt at posting one of my favorite Christmas songs each day... we'll see if I remember!

December 6th (posted last year, too - on the live journal...):
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

As Wikipedia will tell you, Bells is based upon the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - written during the Civil War after his son was wounded. The words still ring true today, and not only for those affected by war, but even for those of us struggling with the season.

Lyrics:
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

And as sung by the angel Karen Carpenter: