My Favorite Christmas Songs

I love Christmas songs. Nothing brings more of a tear to the eyes.
Here, my favorites. With my favorite versions mentioned.

My Favorite Christmas Songs

1) Silent Night. I remember the Rose Park United Methodist Choir singing this song as I stood there under the star, in my shepherd’s costume, waiting for my cue to go up to the manger. I was the lead shepherd, always. When I heard Stevie Nicks’ version, it blew me away. It’s still the best version I’ve heard.

2) O Holy Night. I’m still waiting for a professional version of this one that really blows me away. Johnny Mathis does a very good version. The one I remember most, though, is the Choir version, which made me actually want to fall on my knees.


3) Joy to the World. We always sang this at the very end of the play, as a sort of ‘going out into the world’ anthem. SNL did a Jewish parody I love where they changed the lyrics to “Joy to the world…our Lord has not yet come…” haha


4) The Little Drummer Boy. Dad and I do the best version of this song, hands down. Haha Well, DAD can sing, anyway. I can’t sing, but I can play the drums, accompanying his guitar. Tori Amos has a version of this that is very nice, but lacks the drums. Bob Seger’s version rocks and is reverent; rare!


5) Do You Hear What I Hear? Before she became a druggie, Whitney Houston was an incredible singer. Her version of this song is awesome. I like all songs about the shepherds. Their humility is one of the coolest things about the Christmas story, to me.


6) Do They Know it’s Christmas? Band Aid reminds me of everything that was great about the 80’s: pop music and people coming together to perform miracles. Twenty years later, Africans are still starving, but at least we saved a life or two when we supported this effort.


7) Christmas, Baby Please Come Home. I hadn’t heard this song until U2 covered it. Now, it’s a favorite. U2 Rules!


8) The First Noel. Billy Pilgrim does a great acoustic version from the ‘You Sleigh Me’ Christmas album. I like talk of angels; it’s like something out of a magical dream.


9) Happy X Mas (War is Over). I commented before; Lennon was unbelievable. Far beyond the rest of us in his ideals. And he was an atheist.


10) O Come All Ye Faithful. We opened the play with this song; great memories.


11) Away in a Manger. Dad always sings this one (and plays guitar) with the little children at the play. When I think that our Savior slept in a cow’s feed area, I smile at the simplicity of it. Real kings don’t need palaces.


12) Hark the Herald Angels Sing. I like any song about glorifying God.


13) What Child is This? When I could play piano, as a child, I played this song in the play. I look at Calvin and want to cry at how beautiful he is; can you imagine how Mary felt? Her son was God!


14) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings. I never would have included this one until I heard Sarah Mac and The Barenaked Ladies’ version. I love it!!


15) Winter Wonderland. Reminds me of Bob Hope, always. The Eurythmics have a great version on ‘A Very Special Christmas.’

16) Silver Bells. I’ve never lived in a city, but it’s always a fantasy to live in one. I picture New York’s Central Park all covered in snow when I hear this song. And, Mom sings this every time she gets out my silver bells from childhood. Which make wonderful decorations.

17) Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. Haha This song cracks me up. Lyrics like, “They should never give a license, to a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves,” is classic!!


Have a great day!