Christmas Carols - The Worst Lyrics

[naomi24]

Some Christmas Carols are jolly, some are rousing - and some, especially when sung by a good choir, are absolutely magnificent. However, certain of the lyric writers seem to have been short on ideas - and this verse from Once in Royal David City, which, to my mind, leaves much to be desired anyway, surely must be the worst.....

.......unless you know differently?

Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in Heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around.

All in white? Why? Shall wait around? What for?

[MarkRae]

Go on, then...

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His Wings.
Now He lays His Glory by,
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

[DTCwordfan]

http://listoftheday.b...mas-cards-of-day.html

[DTCwordfan]

I love the credit crunch card.....

[jomifl]

for eternity Naomi, beyond imagining isn't it?

[jno]

"wait" as in what waiters do: stand in attendance.

[wildwood]

I know some amusing carol lyrics, but that will get me banned forever from AB.

[naomi24]

Good gracious! It gets worse! That's unbelievable! And there's me thinking the writer couldn't think of anything better to rhyme! :o)

[Truthabounds]

For once Naomi I have to agree with you.

[ichkeria]

It's easy to pick apart the lyrics of songs - in fact I seem to remember several features on Radio One a few years ago doing just that.
As jno says, in this instance the "wait" means wait in attendance.

That strikes me as one of Cecil Frances Alexander's best moments.
If you want duff lyrics the transltion of bits of Adeste Fideles leave something to be desired: "Very God"? Very ...

[slaney]

Think it's very meaning "true" in the archaic sense, ichkeria.

[ichkeria]

I know it is slaney, but that line, and the ones around it, always struck me as unnecessarily minimalist. As if the translator was trying to stick to the word count of the original.

[rowanwitch]

The angel Gabriel from Heaven came,
his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame,
"All hail", said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary,
most highly favoured lady," Gloria, Gloria!

"For know, a blessed mother thou shalt be,
all generations laud and honour thee,
thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold.
Most highly favoured lady," Gloria, Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"my soul shall laud and magnify His holy Name,"
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria, Gloria!

Of her, Emmanuel, the child, was born.
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say,
Most highly favoured lady. Gloria!


Gloria...? i thought her name was supposed to be Mary

[Rodge2]

It's not exactly a carol but that Xmas song 'Last Christmas' by Wham is always completely spoiled for me because the phrase 'Last Christmas I GEV you my heart..' always grates on me.

[dtgblue]

While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The Angel of the Lord came down,
And charged them half a crown.

[maggiebee]

Now Rowan, you're just being silly. Gloria has nothing to do with the name - it's from the Latin Glory as in "Gloria in Excelsis Deo". Nothing to do with the name.

[rowanwitch]

I know buts its how it reads at the end.... loads of the old carols are a bit odd now especially as language evolves...

[annadomino]

What twaddle (lyrics, not the posters)