Winter Wonderland

Bob and Parson Brown
Take this jingle-jangle tune
For a brand new spin.

"Winter Wonderland": music by Felix Bernard, words by Richard B. Smith. Perry Como and the Andrews Sisters are but two of the many who have recorded this one. It appears on the 2009 Bob Dylan album "Christmas in the Heart."

Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, 
In the lane, snow is glistening
A beautiful sight,
We're happy tonight.
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Gone away is the bluebird,
Here to stay is a new bird
He sings a love song,
As we go along,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
Then pretend that he is Parson Brown

He'll say: Are you married?
We'll say: No man, 
But you can do the job
When you're in town.

Later on, we'll conspire,
As we dream by the fire
To face unafraid, 
The plans that we've made,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

In the meadow we can build a snowman,
And pretend that he's a circus clown
We'll have lots of fun with mister snowman,
Until the other kids knock him down.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,
Though your nose gets a chilling
We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walking in a winter wonderland.

Silver Bells

What Christmas is like
In the city: silver bells
And red light green light.

First performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the movie, "The Lemon Drop Kid." Written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. Bing Crosby made it famous. 

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Bethlehem is nice,
Especially at Christmas,
Its big holiday.

This Christmas Carol, written by Phillips Brooks in 1868, appears on Bob Dylan's 2009 album, "Christmas in the Heart." It could fit in with any of Dylan's Christian music, at least so I think.

1. O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

2. For Christ is born of Mary,
And, gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wond'ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.

3. How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav'n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Come to Bethlehem.
You'll never believe what's there.
Or maybe you will.

Another track from the 2009 album "Christmas in the Heart." "O Come, All Ye Faithful," otherwise known as "Adeste Fideles" is the only time I can think of when Bob Dylan has sung in Latin. (He sang a verse of "Return to Me" in Italian, and you can hear it on the "Sopranos" soundtrack album called "Peppers and Eggs." He's also done Spanish on "Romance in Durango" and "Spanish Is the Loving Tongue.)

This song is ascribed to John Francis Wade, who lived in the 18th century, though others have been associated with it.

Adeste fideles læti triumphantes,
Venite, venite in Bethlehem.
Natum videte
Regem angelorum:
Venite adoremus (3×)
Dominum.

Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine
Gestant puellæ viscera
Deum verum, genitum non factum.
Venite adoremus (3×)
Dominum.

Cantet nunc io, chorus angelorum;
Cantet nunc aula cælestium,
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo,
Venite adoremus (3×)
Dominum.

Ergo qui natus die hodierna.
Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
Patris æterni Verbum caro factum.
Venite adoremus (3×)
Dominum.

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

God of God, light of light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin's womb;
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest:
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!
O come, let us adore Him, (3×)
Christ the Lord.

Other verses in various versions:

En grege relicto, humiles ad cunas,
Vocati pastores adproperant:
Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus,
Venite adoremus (3×)
Dominum.

Stella duce, Magi Christum adorantes,
Aurum, tus et myrrham dant munera.
Iesu infanti corda præbeamus
Venite adoremus (3×)
Dominum.

Æterni parentis splendorem æternum
Velatum sub carne videbimus
Deum infantem pannis involutum
Venite adoremus (3×)
Dominum.

Pro nobis egenum et fœno cubantem,
Piis foveamus amplexibus.
Sic nos amantem quis non redamaret?
Venite adoremus (3×)
Dominum.

Must Be Santa

Beard, red cap, red nose.

Please issue an APB;
It must be Santa.

"Must Be Santa" was the standout song on Bob Dylan's Christmas music album, "Christmas in the Heart" from 2009. It's a polka-style German drinking tune done as a call-and-response to identify Santa Claus. The original song, by Hal Moore and Bill Fredericks, was first recorded by Mitch Miller. Dylan mixes the names of post-war U.S. presidents into the list of reindeer. The video, if you haven't seen it, is a must. It starts off as a Christmas party and ends as a completely inexplicable chase scene involving a reveler who turns out to be some kind of villain. Both song and video are much fun.

Who's got a beard that's long and white
Santa's got a beard that's long and white

Who comes around on a special night
Santa comes around on a special night

Special Night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus

Who wears boots and a suit of red
Santa wears boots and a suit of red

Who wears a long cap on his head
Santa wears a long cap on his head

Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus

Who's got a big red cherry nose
Santa's got a big red cherry nose

Who laughs this way HO HO HO
Santa laughs this way HO HO HO

HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus

Who very soon will come our way
Santa very soon will come our way

Eight little reindeer pull his sleigh
Santa's little reindeer pull his sleigh

Reindeer sleigh, come our way
HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen,
Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen

Reindeer sleigh, come our way
HO HO HO, cherry nose
Cap on head, suit that's red
Special night, beard that's white

Must be Santa
Must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus

The Little Drummer Boy

Bing, Bowie and Bob,
They all do the drummer boy.
It must be the drum.

"The Little Drummer Boy" was written by Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941, and represents one of the best examples of the "ear worm" arsenal in popular music. There is no way to remove the "pa rum pum pum pum" refrain from your ears except for repeated applications of lye or death metal. So the experts say.

The famous versions of this song include the ones by the Von Trapp family singers, the Harry Simeone Chorale, and the utterly bizarre Christmas TV special version with Bing Crosby and David Bowie. Bob Dylan's version appears on the 2009 album "Christmas in the Heart."

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Bob says he'll be home
For Christmas. But we all know:
He's always on tour.

That's not at all what the song is about, and I told myself that I wouldn't write meta-haiku. This one I kept as an exception.

The song was written by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent who wanted to write a song about anyone who couldn't be with their family at Christmas time. Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1943, and it became a big hit for military personnel abroad during World War Two, as well as their families. It's written from the point of view of a military man posted abroad.

Dylan performed the song on the 2009 album "Christmas in the Heart."

Here Comes Santa Claus

Hide in your beds, kids.
Santa will come in your house
With a gift for you.

Horse opera star Gene Autry wrote this in 1947. As he notes:

So hang your stockings and say your prayers.
So jump in bed, and cover your head.
He'll come around when chimes ring out.

Bob recorded this for his Christmas album, as you might expect.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Have a good Christmas.
Even if things suck, they will
Be better next year.

This Christmas carol comes from the 1944 movie "Meet Me in St. Louis." The writers Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane changed some lyrics under pressure to make the song lighter. In particular, they changed "Have yourself a merry little Christmas/It may be your last/Next year we may all be living in the past" to the line about "Let your heart be light." Frank Sinatra, in his version, asked Hugh Martin to change "Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow" because the name of his album for which he recorded the song was "A Jolly Christmas." The Wikipedia entry for this song says Sinatra said, "The name of my album is A Jolly Christmas. Do you think you could jolly up that line for me?" This is where the "highest bough" line comes from. Dylan recorded the song for his album "Christmas in the Heart."

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on, 
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years 
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now. 

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

The angels have news
About a new birth in town.
You'd better listen.

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a song by Charles Wesley from 1739. It appears on Bob Dylan's Christmas album, "Christmas in the Heart." This is one of the big carols, and pretty well known. Here are the lyrics, which I think tell you all you need to know about how I came up with the haiku.

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 the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild 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
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

The First Noel

News flash: Jesus born.
Three kings confirm the story.
We repeat the facts.

You know this song, and you know the haiku is right on. Here are lyrics in case you need a refresher. Dylan released this on his album "Christmas in the Heart" in 2009. He rumbles through it like a road paver with a full set of flat tires. I love it.

The First Noel, the Angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

And by the light of that same star
Three Wise men came from country far
To seek for a King was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both Pause and stay
Right o'er the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

Then entered in those Wise men three
Full reverently upon their knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel! 

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!

Do You Hear What I Hear

Wind tells lamb tells boy
Tells king tells the people that
Jesus will bring peace.

More Christmas music from Bob Dylan's "Christmas in the Heart Album." The song comes from the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Who saw or heard  or knew what, and told whom:

1. Night wind to lamb: Dancing star with a big tail.
2. Lamb to shepherd: Song above the trees with a very big voice.
3. Shepherd to king: Cold child to whom we must bring silver and gold.
4. King to people: This kid is a good thing for us.

No nukes, baby.

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

Christmas is coming.

Kids aged 1 to 92:

It's coming for you.

This is the "chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose" song, and it was written by Bob Wells and Mel Torme in 1944. I thought that the chestnuts and Jack Frost (Dylan's pseudonym as a producer, by the way) were too obvious for haiku purposes, so I seized on the lyric:

"And so, I'm offering this simple phrase To kids from one to ninety-two Although it's been said many times, many ways Merry Christmas to you."

Dylan recorded it for the 2009 album "Christmas in the Heart."

Christmas Island

Tropical Christmas.

Santa drops in by canoe.

Let's go there sometime.

This is another old standard that Bob Dylan recorded for the "Christmas in the Heart" album in 2009. It's ridiculous, though Bob's in good company with other performers of the song, notably the Andrews Sisters and Bing Crosby.

How'd ja like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island? How'd ja like to spend the Holiday away across the sea? How'd ja like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island? How'd ja like to hang your stockin' on a great big coconut tree? How'd ja like to stay up late, like the islanders do Wait for Santa to sail in with your presents in a canoe If you ever spend Christmas on Christmas Island You will never stray, for ev'ry day Your Christmas dreams come true How'd ja like to stay up late, like the islanders do Wait for Santa to sail in with your presents in a canoe If you ever spend Christmas on Christmas Island You will never stray, for ev'ry day Your Christmas dreams come true

The Christmas Blues

Christmas time sucks if

You have no friends or lover

To buy presents for.

This bluesy Christmas carol was written by Sammy Cahn and David Holt. Jo Stafford released a version in 1953, as did Dean Martin. Dylan's version appeared on "Christmas in the Heart." Here are the lyrics:

The jingle bells are jingling The streets are white with snow The happy crowds are mingling But there's no one that I know I'm sure that you'll forgive me If I don't enthuse I guess I've got the Christmas blues I've done my window shopping There's not a store I've missed But what's the use of stopping When there's no one on your list You'll know the way I'm feeling When you love and you lose I guess I've got the Christmas blues When somebody wants you Somebody needs you Christmas is a joy of joy But friends when you're lonely You'll find that it's only A thing for little girls and little boys May all your days be merry Your seasons full of cheer But 'til it's January I'll just go and disappear Oh Santa may have brought you some stars for your shoes But Santa only brought me the blues Those brightly packaged tinsel covered Christmas blues Oh Santa may have brought you some stars for your shoes But Santa only brought me the blues Those brightly packaged tinsel covered Christmas blues

The Christmas Song

Bob's alter ego,
Jack Frost, nips at your nose,
So roast his chestnuts.

Christmas Island

People love Christmas
Songs that are set on tropic
Islands. Dunno why.

The Christmas Blues

When Bob sings this song,
It could be a PSA
For wintertime blahs.