Stream The Light of the Season Through Music

We are new to streaming. I came across some old shows that highlighted some great Songs of the Season. Andy Williams Christmas Show was my favorite as a kid. My sister and I would mix up a batch of hot cocoa and haul the tree and decorations out of the alcove, while watching his Christmas special, on an evening when my aunt was out visiting the neighbors. She's come home oohing and aweing to a lit, decorated tree.

I also stumbled on a wonderful Peter, Paul and Mary holiday special that was offered on PBS years ago.

They included old English songs and classics that honored both Christmas and Hanukkah. I am including the words to a couple of my favorites, along with their placement on the presentation, as they are so beautiful. The passion and intensity with which they were sung is very moving. Please enjoy, turn it up and sing along.

Peter Paul and Mary - The Holiday Concert

At three minutes in, there is a lovely song called "Hey Ho Nobody Home," dating back to 16th-century England. I felt an emotional connection to this song. It makes me think of the sacrifices my ancestors made to escape a troubled Europe and placing faith in a new home called America. They left with nothing and embraced our country. I owe them thanks for the sacrifices they made.

It also made me think of the people on street corners asking for help, holding homemade signs with sad and desperate faces; and the Salvation Army volunteers with their loud bells, breaking through the world's indifferent silence. Here are the lyrics:

Hey ho, nobody home
Meat nor drink nor money have I none
Yet shall we be merry
Hey ho, nobody home

Soal, a soal, a soal cake, please good missus, a soal cake
An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry,
any good thing to make us all merry
One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all

O bless the master of this house – likewise the mistress too
and all the little children that ‘round the table grow
The cattle in your stable, the dog by your front door
And all that dwell within your gates, we wish you then times more

Go down into the cellar and see what you can find
If the barrels are not empty, we hope you will be kind
We hope you will be kind with your apple and your pear
for we’ll come no more a’ soalin’ ‘til this time next year

The streets are very dirty, my shoes are very thin
I have a little pocket to put a penny in
If you haven’t got a penny, a half penny will do
If you haven’t got a half penny, then God bless you.

At 11 minutes, 24 seconds, following a heart-tugging song called "I Wonder as I Wander," is a song I love so much: "O Come, O Come Emanuel." Again, written long ago - 1851... Here are the lyrics:

O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave.

O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode.

O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.

O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.

At about thirty-two minutes in, another song begins, a traditional song of Hanukkah I'd never heard, called "Hayo Haya." The words hold so much meaning, sadly even today:

Hayo, haya, melech rasha, melech rasha.
Charbo chada, umlutasha, umlutasha
Mihu? Antiochus, Antiochus.

Let us remember reign of terror, reign of terror
King who murdered pain forever, pain forever
Who then? Antiochus, Antiochus
Antiochus, Antiochus

The blood he spilled, Jerusalem, Jerusalem
So many killed, gone all of them, gone all of them
Who then? Antiochus, Antiochus

Our hearts he broke, he burned the Torah, burned the Torah
Ash and smoke, the crushed menorah, crushed menorah
Who then? Antiochus, Antiochus

Arise our hero, Judah save us, Judah save us
Prize so dear, the vict'ry gave us, freedom gave us
Who then? Macabeus, Macabeus

Oh sing our songs and praise the Torah, praise the Torah
Right the wrongs and light menorah, light menorah
When then? Chanukah, Chanukah

These songs seem to reflect the very soul of Humanity, and remind us of the Sacred through music. Please include your favorites.

Happy Holidays!