Category: Music

Our sing-along for Tuesday, December 29, is “Deck the Hall”–another song with an interesting past and interesting variations.

• The “halls” weren’t originally plural. Perhaps that’s because as originally presented, the singers wouldn’t be in any condition to “deck” more than one hall.
• I’ve always thought that the verb “troll” in the first stanza should be “toll,” as you would toll a bell. But no-o-o-o! Evidently the original Welsh word was “troul,” whose English version “troll” can mean “to sing the parts of [in this case, an “ancient Yuletide carol”] in succession . . . ; also, to sing loudly, freely or in a carefree way.” So “troll” it is.
• The G-rated lyrics with which we are most familiar come from a cleaned-up version published in the Pennsylvania School Journal of 1877; the original PG-rated lyrics mention a “meadcup” and “quaffing,” and also “beauty’s treasure.” Aha!
• There’s some question about whether it’s referring to a “Yuletide” or “Christmas” carol (stanza 1) or treasure (stanza 2). Originally this was published as a New Years’ Eve song; the school version referenced Christmas. I’ve gone with “Yuletide,” which refers to a season, not an event.
• The annoying fa-la-las are evidently some ancient Welsh scat singing. But it wouldn’t be “Deck the Hall” (or “Halls”) without them.

Deck the hall with boughs of holly,
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
'Tis the season to be jolly,
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Don we now our gay apparel,
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

See the blazing yule before us,
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Follow me in merry measure,
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

Fast away the old year passes,
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses!
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Sing we joyous all together,
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
Heedless of the wind and weather,
     Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

Click here for the recording.

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Join us at https://lavezzi.us/ on each of the Twelve Days of Christmas to join in this virtual sing-along. Care to be a serial singer? Here you go:

• Here is the song from the First Day of Christmas.
• Here is the song from the Second Day of Christmas.
• Here is the song from the Third Day of Christmas.
• Here is the song from the Fourth Day of Christmas.

For Sunday, December 27 (the Feast of the Holy Family), sing along on “Silent Night,” perhaps the most beloved of all Christmas carols. Most folks have heard the story about its emergency development: a pastor, Joseph Mohr, asked his organist Franz Gruber to develop a melody on the guitar because the organ was out of order. The lyrics we know are not the original ones. (Those were German.)

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,
Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born! 
Christ the Savior 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.

Click here for the recording.

Not sure what this is about? Click here!

Join us at https://lavezzi.us/ on each of the Twelve Days of Christmas to join in this virtual sing-along. Care to be a serial singer?

• Here is the song from the First Day of Christmas.
• Here is the song from the Second Day of Christmas.