Songs For Christmas : Lord of the Dance / Simple Gifts

The lyrics for Lord of the Dance were written back in 1967 by English songwriter Sydney Carter. The tune for the song came from Simple Gifts, a traditional hymn of the American Shakers, that dates back to 1848. In this version sung by Blackmore’s Night from their album Winter Carols, both songs are mashed together.

Slide your cursor over the highlighted words to view a popup window with its French translation.

Lord Of The Dance / Simple Gifts

I danced in the morning when the world had begun
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun
I came down from heaven and I danced on the Earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth

Dance then wherever you may be
"I am the Lord of the Dance" said He
"And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He

‘Tis a gift to be simple ‘tis a gift to be free
’Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves in a place just right
We'll be in the valley of love and delight

Dance then wherever you may be
"I am the Lord of the Dance" said He
"And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He

When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed
To turn to turn will be our delight
Till be turning we come round right

Dance then wherever you may be
"I am the Lord of the Dance" said He
"And I'll lead you all wherever you may be
And I'll lead you all in the dance said He

I danced in the morning when the world had begun
And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun
I came down from heaven and I danced on the Earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth

The original lyrics to Lord of the Dance

Lyrics to Simple Gifts

English/Scottish Folk Song: The Water is Wide

"The Water Is Wide" (also called "O Waly, Waly") is thought to be an English or Scottish folk song that has been sung since the 1600s and has seen considerable popularity through to the 21st century. (Wikipedia)

This is probably one of the prettiest folk songs that exists. Here it is sung by a world famous New Zealander Hayley Westenra. In 2006, she joined Celtic Woman.

The water is wide, I cannot get over And neither have I wings to fly Give me a boat that will carry two And both shall row, my love and I

Where love is planted O there it grows It grows and blossoms like a rose It has a sweet and pleasant smell No flower on Earth can it excel

The ship there is and she sails the sea She's loaded deep as deep can be But not so deep as the love I'm in I know not if I sink or swim

Oh love is gentle, love is kind The sweetest flower when first it's new But love grows old and waxes cold And fades away like morning dew

Irish Songs: The Mountains of Mourne

The lyrics to the song "The Mountains of Mourne" were written in 1896 by the 19th Century Irish musician Percy French. It is normally sung to the same tune used by Thomas Moore (1779–1852) for his song "Bendemeer's Stream".

The song is representative of French's many works concerning the Irish diaspora. The Mourne Mountains of the title are located in County Down in present-day Northern Ireland. (Wikipedia)

Oh, Mary, this London's a wonderful sight The people here are working by day and by night They don't sow potatoes, nor barley, nor wheat But there's gangs of them diggin' for gold in the street	to sow – semer barley – l’orge gang – une équipe to dig - creuser
At least, when I asked them, that's what I was told So I just took a hand at this diggin' for gold But for all that I've found there I might as well be In the place where the dark Mournes sweep down to the sea	to take a hand at – s’essayer à to sweep down – vallonner doucement vers
There's beautiful girls here, oh never you mind Beautiful shapes, nature never designed Lovely complexions of roses and cream.	to mind – faire attention à complexion – le teint
But let me remark with regard to the same That if at that those roses you venture to sip The colours might all come away on your lips So I'll wait for the wild roses waitin' for me In the place where the dark Mournes sweep down to the sea.	to venture – hasarder, se risquer à faire to sip - siroter wild roses – he refers to the girls back home
You remember young Davey McClarin of course Well sure, now, he's 'round here with the rest of the force I saw him one day as I was crossing The Strand and he stopped the whole street with a wave of his hand	The Strand – une rue à Londres wave – un signe
And as we stood talking of days that are gone the whole town of London stood there to look on But for all his great powers, he's wishful like me to be back where the dark Mournes sweep down to the sea But for all his great powers he's wishful like me to be back where the dark Mournes sweep down to the sea	to look on – regarder, considérer

Irish Songs: Star of the County Down

"Star of the County Down" is an old Irish ballad set near Banbridge in County Down, in Northern Ireland. The words are by Cathal Garvey, 1866-1927, from Ramelton, County Donegal. The song shares its melody with many other works, including the almost identical English tune "Kingsfold", well known from several popular hymns, such as "Led By the Spirit." The folk tune was the basis for Ralph Vaughan Williams' Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus. The song is notable for its tight rhyme scheme. Each stanza is a double quatrain, and the first and third lines of each quatrain have an internal rhyme on the second and fourth feet: [aa]b[cc]b. The refrain is a single quatrain with the same rhyming pattern.

The song is sung from the point of view of a young man who chances to meet a charming lady by the name of Rose (or Rosie) McCann, referred to as the "star of the County Down". From a brief encounter the writer's infatuation grows until, by the end of the ballad, he imagines wedding the girl.

(Wikipedia)

Van Morrison the Chieftains: Star of the County Down

In Banbridge Town in the County Down One morning last July, From a boreen green came a sweet colleen And she smiled as she passed me by. She looked so sweet from her two bare feet To the sheen of her nut brown hair. Such a coaxing elf, sure I shook myself For to see I was really there.	colleen (mot irlandais) – une fille irlandaise boreen (mot irlandais) un chemin de terre sheen – la brillance coaxing - cajolant
Chorus: From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay and From Galway to Dublin Town, No maid I've seen like the brown colleen That I met in the County Down.	maid – une demoiselle
At the Harvest Fair she'll be surely there And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes, With my shoes shone bright and my hat cocked right For a smile from my nut brown rose. No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke Till my plough turns rust coloured brown. Till a smiling bride, by my own fireside Sits the star of the County Down.	harvest – la récolte cocked – penché to yoke – atteler plough – une charrue rust – la rouille bride – une jeune mariée fireside – le foyer
Chorus
As she onward sped, sure I scratched my head, And I looked with a feelin' rare, And I says, says I, to a passer-by, "Whose the maid with the nut brown hair"? He looked at me and he says, say's he, "That's the gem of Ireland's crown. Young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann, She's the star of the County Down".	to speed onward (ici)– continuer à toute allure passer-by – un passant gem – le bijou bank – la rive, le bord
Chorus

Christmas in Britain - The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas are the days beginning on the evening of Christmas Day to Epiphany (the evening before is called Twelfth Night). These twelves days are still celebrated in some aspect in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, the traditions have almost completely dissappeared in the United States except with a few religious groups.

These holidays have led to a famous holiday song sung in all English-speaking countries, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Versions of this song have existed since the XVI century but the version known today was arranged in the XX century by Frederic Austin.

For the lyrics to this song, go HERE.

VOCABULARY partridge - pedrix turtle dove - tourterelle hen - poule *calling bird - merle ring - anneau, bague goose (irregular plural form - geese) - oie to lay (irregular verb - laid, laid) - pondre swan - cygne maid (archaic) - demoiselle to milk - traire to leap - bondir, sauter piper - joueur de cornemuse to pipe - jouer de la cornemuse drummer - batteur to drum - jouer de la batterie *"colly" or "collie" means "black" and originates from an old English word for "coal." Apparently the sung was orignally sung with 'four collie birds.'

Christmas In America - The Christmas Songs (Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire)

An American favorite written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells, The Christmas Song (or Chestnust Roasting On an Open Fire) is best known from the recording by Nat King Cole. The song's popularity is due to the strong sentiments reflected in its lines. It captures the essence of a family Christmas.

The Christmas Song

(Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping on your nose, Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, And folks dressed up like Eskimos. Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe, Help to make the season bright. Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow, Will find it hard to sleep tonight. They know that Santa's on his way; He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh. And every mother's child is going to spy, To see if reindeer really know how to fly. And so I'm offering this simple phrase, To kids from one to ninety-two, Although its been said many times, many ways, A very Merry Christmas to you

VOCABULARY

chestnut - marron

to roast - (ici) griller

Jack Frost - Bonhomme d'hiver

*to nip - mordre

yuletide - période de Noël

carol - chant de Noël

folks - des gens

mistletoe - gui

tiny tots - des bambins

aglow - brillant

to load - charger

goodies - des bonbons, gâteaux, etc..

sleigh - traîneau

to spy - espionner

reindeer (Note - irregular plural form 2 or 3 reindeer) - renne

kids - des gosses

*There's a nip in the air - Il fait frisquet.

Christmas in America - White Christmas

One of the most beloved holiday songs is White Christmas. It was written by Irving Berlin in 1940 while he sat at the poolside of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. In an original verse that was later dropped from the song, Berlin poked fun at a wealthy Los Angeleno who longed for a Christmas "up North" while he sat among orange and palm trees. White Christmas was introduced to the public in the 1942 musical film Holiday Inn when Bing Crosby sung the song with Majorie Reynolds. However, in the film it isn't Ms. Reynolds's voice! She was dubbed by Martha Mears. The song went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Bing Crosby sung the song again in the 1954 musical of the same name, White Christmas, starring Crosby and Danny Kaye.

Now enjoy a video clip from Holiday Inn! The lyrics are to be found after the video.

Bing Crosby - White Christmas

White Christmas I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

Just like the ones I used to know

Where the treetops glisten, and children listen

To hear sleigh bells in the snow.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

With every Christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright

And may all your Christmases be white.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas

With every Christmas card I write

May your days be merry and bright

And may all your Christmases be white.

VOCABULARY beloved - bien-aimé dropped - ôté, enlevé to poke fun at - se moquer de to long for - avoir très envie de dubbed - doublé to glisten - luire sleigh - traîneau bell - cloche