Music – Page 5 – Oh, Contrarian!

Sing Along on the Third Day of Christmas

For the Third Day, our sing-along is “Joy to the World,” which we often hear as the opening or closing hymn on Christmas day itself. Like a lot of Christmas songs, this one started out as a poem. Here’s how it looked when first published.

It was written as Isaac Watt’s take on the second part of Psalm 98. Here’s how it looked in 1719, when published in his “Psalms of David: Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and Apply’d to the Christian State and Worship.” So it’s now over 400 years old!

Sing Along on the Second Day of Christmas

For St. Stephen’s Day, sing along with “Good King Wenceslas”! This song is worth a look in Wikipedia. “King” Wenceslas was actually a Bohemian duke who was declared a saint by the Catholic Church. You’ll see why in this song, where even his footprints in the snow are warm. The lyrics:

Sing Along on the First Day of Christmas

The First Day of Christmas is Christmas Day itself. For Saturday, December 25, sing along on “Silent Night,” perhaps the most beloved of all Christmas carols.

About the Contrarian

I’ve enjoyed two marvelous careers: first as a teacher of English and theatre (and, occasionally, psychology); and second as executive director of the North Eastern Ohio Education Association (NEOEA).

But I’ve always had other interests: public policy, parliamentary procedure, union leadership, music, genealogy, and photography. Since retiring in 2017, I’ve focused on those interests.

As is perhaps obvious, I’m still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up.