Christmas Sing-Along
with
Union Chapel Singers
Design by Caroline Grimshaw
Welcome to the Union Chapel Singers Christmas Sing-Along of 2024!
Below you can find the programme with lyrics.
Join us!
Leijoo
trad from Lapland, arr. Sanna Valvanne
Sung by the Union Chapel Singers
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Johnny Marks
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Play in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
You'll go down in history
[Repeat!]
Ding Dong Bells Canon
Sung by the Union Chapel Singers
Christmas Bells Canon
Ring, ting! The Joybells are ringing,
Glad children are singing for Christmas is here.
Ding Dong Merrily On High
George Ratcliffe Woodward / Jehan Tabourot (aka Thoinot Arbeau)
1. Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
2. E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
3. Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Feliz Navidad
by José Feliciano
Sung by the Union Chapel Singers
Gaudete
traditional
CHORUS
Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, Gaudete!
Gaudete, gaudete! Christus est natus
Ex Maria virgine, Gaudete!
Verses 1-4 with Chorus in between and at the end.
In the Bleak midwinter
Christina Rosetti / Gustav Holst
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God almighty, Jesus Christ.
Angels and Archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
Good King Wenceslas
Václav Alois Svoboda (transl. John Mason Neale,Thomas Helmore) / trad.
1.
Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight gathering winter fuel
2.
"Hither, page, and stand by me If thou know'st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he? where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes' fountain."
3.
"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine bring me pine logs hither;
Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went, forth they went together;
Through the rude wind's wild lament and the bitter weather.
4.
"Sire, the night is darker now, and the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer."
"Mark my footsteps, my good page; tread thou in them boldly.
Thou shalt find the winter's rage, freeze thy blood less coldly."
5.
In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted.
Heat was in the very sod which the Saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank pos-sessing;
Ye who will now bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.
Jingle Bells
James Lord Pierpont
1. Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,
O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright,
Oh what fun it is to sing a sleighing song tonight. Oh!
[Chorus]
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
2. Now the ground is white, go it while you're young
Take the girls along and sing this sleighing song
Just bet a bobtailed bay, two forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh and crack! you'll take the lead. Oh!
>> [Chorus]
O holy Night
Placide Cappeau / Adolphe Adam
1.
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angels’ voices!
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born;
Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine.
2.
Let by the light of faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by the cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend.
He knows our need, weakness is no stranger,
behold your King before him bend!
Behold your King, behold, behold your King.
3. (repeat 1.)
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, oh hear the angels’ voices!
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born;
Oh night divine, oh night, oh night divine.
Autumn leaves
Joseph Kosma
Sung by the Union Chapel Singers
Silent Night
Joseph Moor / Franz Xaver Gruber
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born!
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth!
Santa Claus is comin’ to town
J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie
You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is comin' to town.
He's making a list and checking it twice,
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice.
Santa Claus is comin' to town.
He sees you when you're sleepin',
He knows when you're awake,
he knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake.
You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is comin' to town.
Once in Royal David’s city
C. F. Alexander / H. J. Gauntlett
Once in Royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed
Mary was that mother's mild
Jesus Christ, her little Child
He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all
And His shelter was a stable
And His cradle was a stall
With the poor, and mean, and lowly
Lived on earth, our Savior holy.
And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable
With the oxen standing by
We shall see Him but in heaven
Set as God's right hand on high
When like stars his children crowned
All in white shall we around
Coventry Carol
text from 15th century / harmonised by M. F. Shaw
Sung by the Union Chapel Singers
12 Days of Christmas
Traditional / Frederic Austin
1. On the first day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
2. On the second day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
3. On the third day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
4. On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
5. On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
6. On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
7. On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
8. On the eighth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
9. On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
10. On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
11. On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.
12. On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five gold rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Charles Wesley / F. Mendelssohn
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th'angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of the Virgin's womb:
veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th'incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"
We wish you a merry Christmas
traditional English
1.
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Refrain
Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy new year
2.
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Now bring us a figgy pudding
Now bring us a figgy pudding
And bring some out here
Refrain
3.
We won’t go until we get some
We won’t go until we get some
We won’t go until we get some
So bring some out here:
Refrain