Christmas With A Twist

Christmas With A Twist is the second of our 3 part series where we are taking a look at the music of Christmas and offer up a mix of traditional songs where you may not have heard these particular versions before and some you may have never heard. And a couple of songs that are just not played nearly enough!

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:09

This is Acoustic Avenue. I am Ted Crouch, your host in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, with co-producer Joel Little in Calgary, Alberta. On Acoustic Avenue, we recognize with respect and gratitude that these lands where we live, work, and make our music remain home to a number of indigenous nations and people. We acknowledge this land out of respect for the indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Welcome to the second of our three-part series, where we are taking a look at the music of Christmas. Christmas has become a holiday that is as much about traditions as it is about anything else. And although there are similarities in the customs that we all share, they're all slightly different, depending on what we did as children with our families, and the traditions we choose to make our own Christmas tree or not, and how to decorate it, the opening of gifts on Christmas Eve, or really early on Christmas morning, or later in the day so we can sleep in a bit, the foods we choose for the holidays, pumpkin, apple, or mint meat pie, candied yams, sweet, or mashed potatoes, eggnog, and cranberry sauce, turkey, goose, duck, or ham, or maybe going out to a Chinese restaurant with the only ones open on Christmas Day, points at wreaths and Christmas lights, and the singing of our favorite Christmas songs. In this episode, we're going to offer up a mix of traditional songs where you may not have heard these particular versions before, some that maybe you've never heard, and a couple of songs that aren't played nearly enough. And you can always add something new to the mix. So who knows? One of them might become part of your own traditions. To lead us off, we'll let John Denver and the Muppet take the mic with a poem and a song. Alfie the Christmas tree hits in every one of us. Then we'll follow that with Joni Mitchell in one of her classics The River. And the Florin Street Band will perform My Favorite Time of Year to end it. Here is John Denver and Joni Mitchell and the Florin Street Band.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

Did you ever hear the story of the Christmas tree and just didn't want to change the show? He liked living in the woods and playing with squirrels. He liked icicles and snow. He liked wolves and eagles and grizzly bears and critters and creatures that crawl. Why bugs were some of his very best friends, spiders and ants and all. Now that's not to say that he ever looked down on a vision of twinkling lights, or on mirrored bubbles and peppermint canes and a thousand other delights. And he often had dreams of tiny reindeer and a jolly old man in a sleigh, full of toys and presents and wonderful things, and the story of Christmas Day. O'Afie believed in Christmas alright. He was full of Christmas cheer, all of each and every day, and all throughout the year. To him it was more than a special time, much more than a special day. It was more than a beautiful story. It was a special kind of way. You see, some folks have never heard a jingle bell ring, and they've never heard of Santa Claus. They've never heard the story of the Son of God. That made Alfie pause. Did that mean that they'd never know of peace on earth or the brotherhood of man? Or know how to love or know how to give? If they can't, no one can. You see, life is a very special kind of thing, not just for a chosen few, but for each and every living, breathing thing, not just me and you. So in your Christmas prayers this year, Alfie asked me if I'd asked you, say a prayer for the wind and the water and the wood, and those who live there too.

SPEAKER_02 5:48

It's in the coming on Christmas, you're cutting down trees, they're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace. Oh, I wish I had a river, I could ski away on. Stays pretty green. I'm gonna make a lot of money, then I'm gonna quit this crazy scene. I wish I had a river, I could skate away on. I wish I had a river so long. I would teach my feet to fly Oh, I wish I had a river. I could skate away. I made my baby cry. He tried hard to help me, you know. He put me at ease, and you love me so naughty made me weak. Oh wish I could ski away. So hard to handle. I'm selfish and I'm sad. Now I gotta lost the best baby that I ever had. Oh, I wish I had a raise. I could skirt away. I wish I had a raise for so long I would teach my feet to me. Oh I wish I had a race. It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees, they're putting up rain, single joy, and I'm gonna do it.

SPEAKER_09 11:45

Phantoms lighting up the town. Everything's calm and creative Let's put with the atoning Just take my candle like the voice Carried on the wind When I was taking it out around When I hear that I wanna join with them, but you're gonna cut, I'll take away, it's all for me.

SPEAKER_00 15:06

How about a tradition where instead of a customary gift exchange the participants engage in a gift of a time? In this unique tradition, family and friends dedicate the entire day to be present and spending quality time together. Everything is cool from John Bryan. And then we have lighted one candle by Peter Paul and Mary. Following that is a Canadian Christmas from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, made with Clark W. And we'll end the set with Nat King Cole and Gloria Estefan singing A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.

SPEAKER_04 16:01

Everything is good, everything's okay. Why just before last Christmas, my baby went away across the sea to an island, while the bridges brightly burned, so far away from Ireland, the valley of the unconcerned. Just looking at my shoes. When God sent me an angel just to chase away my blue, I saw a hundred thousand black birds just flying through the sky. And they seemed to form a teardrop from a black-haired angel's eye. And that tear fell all around me, and it washed my sins away. Now everything is cool, everything's okay. Why, just before last Christmas, my baby went away, and I found it real surprising for myself to hear me say that everything is cool. Everything's okay. Everything is cool. Everything's okay. Why was just before last Christmas? My baby went away.

SPEAKER_12 18:52

Light one candle for the pain they endured when their right to exist was denied. But light one candle for the terror of the sacrifice, justice and freedom demand. But light one candle for the wisdom to know when the peacemaker's time is at bad. Don't let the light go out.

SPEAKER_10 19:16

It's that so let the light go out.

SPEAKER_12 19:30

Like one cattle for the strike that we need to never become my own.

SPEAKER_10 21:53

Some big surrels to war my toes, a duke, some bits, a scarf, it's the A double, double in my hands, some long johns underneath my pants, a combo that only we can understand The roads are closed, it's blizzarding. So let's go snowmobiling. We'll build a fort and do some tobogany. We'll light a fire and make a drink. We'll play some shiny out on the rink until our cheeks are numb and frozen painting. A Canadian Christmas All covered in snow. The goody bacon, the memory making, the ho ho ho a Canadian Christmas. It's dear to me. And there's nowhere in the whole wide world. I'd rather be a Canadian Christmas. The world juniors on TV. The Namo bars and curling. We'll keep our favorite movies on repeat. McLaughlin, Boublet, and Selene. And Bob and Doug, twelve days we sing. Enthusiastic, off key caroling. A Canadian Christmas. All covered in white. The turkey dinner, the sparkly glitter, the magical eyes. A Canadian Christmas It's dear to me. And there's no one in the home I'd want. I'd rather be a Canadian Christmas. As you can see, it's never quite perfect, but nonetheless worth it when they finally leave safe. There were angels dining at the rich a nightingale signed and body square, I may be right, I may be wrong, but I'm perfectly willing to swear that when you turn and smiled at me, a nightingale said in Barkley Square The Moon that lingered over London Town. He wore a frown. Seemed upside down the streets of town were paved with stones. It was such a romantic affair, and as we say, when John keeps stealing up a cold blue to interrupt our under. Was it true?

SPEAKER_04 30:03

Our homeward step was just as light as the dancing of friends like an echo far away.

SPEAKER_08 33:04

That's the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway. Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright. The sun is shine by day and all the stars at night.

SPEAKER_10 33:42

Whoa, that's the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway. Here we know that Christmas will be green and the sun to shine by day and all the stars and all the stars.

SPEAKER_08 34:24

Hawaii on Christmas Day. That's the island greeting that we send to you from the land where boundaries weigh.

SPEAKER_10 34:42

The sun will shine by day and all the stars and day.

SPEAKER_08 34:52

To say Merry Christmas.

SPEAKER_10 34:55

A Merry Merry Christmas.

SPEAKER_08 34:57

A Merry Merry Christmas to you.

SPEAKER_10 35:22

Oh, I want Mama cheese ball. That's my food. Well, I want Mama cheer ball. That's what I do. We got that. Do the bad bottom of the do-to-do-do. That mother. That buggy. That motherfucker. Do you want to burn that? That bother the ball. Do we do that? Oh, the doubt in the off. Timbo with the body. Timbo with the dead mother.

SPEAKER_03 39:00

He stands looking down through his window. And though the street below is filled with light, his room is filled with shadows. It's never good to be on your own. When saddle memories come crowning, but the worst time to be alone is when Christmas stars are shining. To be with friends and family, to remember all nine sign. And in the noisy, busy street below. Shine on the people moving to and fro. And happy, colorful confusion. To the watcher by the window, all this only serves to remind him of a loving heart he's broken. His only daughter lost to angry bitter words. To be with friends and family, to remember all land. If there's a time to be with those you love, it's here, it's now, it's Christmas time. He turns to pour himself a single glance as the midnight hour is chiming, a silent oak to a year that's nearly pass, and to dreams of new beginning, as if in answer to his unspoken prayer, he hears footsteps on the landing, and in the light from the open doorway there, he sees his daughter standing of Mr. Dad, he heard her say, and it was Christmas Day.

SPEAKER_11 42:46

Our finest gifts we bring her on the phone.

SPEAKER_07 43:00

Can it be as we perhaps we'll see? I play my truth. My child. Your child too. Live in peace. Live in peace again. Peace on us.

SPEAKER_00 44:54

This is the final set for today's special Christmas. Tradition with a twist. Imagine a tradition that emphasizes the true spirit of Christmas by focusing on the intangible gifts of love. Together and shared experiences allows people to commercial last year of the holiday and connections with each other. I want to come home for Christmas. The significance of these lies in their ability to evoke emotion and fresh out of on the holiday season. Closing today's show is a new voice to our library that we hope you will enjoy. She will sing Silent Night.

SPEAKER_10 46:40

And to the laughter of children playing in the snow who to kiss my baby under the museum to I can't promise my eyes decide unless they stop the fight.

SPEAKER_05 47:15

Cause I'm a prisoner of war.

SPEAKER_10 47:20

Like hearing myself, hoping my family is well. Wish they wouldn't worry so much about me. Just try to get us home in time for the Christmas tree. But I promise to find this time. Unless they stop the fight.

SPEAKER_05 48:46

Trying to stop this fight. Oh, but I'd give anything to see the family and that little Christmas tree.

SPEAKER_10 50:30

And it hung in the sky like a star.

SPEAKER_11 50:36

Just like a star.

SPEAKER_10 50:42

He followed a light and came down to shape. Right of self shall run. He had a face. He said, Do not feel. I come from a planet a long way from here. And I bring a message for mankind to heal. And suddenly the sweetest music. And just before the dawn, at the paling of the sky, the stranger returned and said, Now I must fly. When two thousand years of your time has gone by, this song will begin once again. The babies cry.

SPEAKER_00 54:58

Until next time, this is Ted Crouch signing off. And on behalf of Joe Little, from our hearts to yours, stay safe and love the ones you're with. Peace.

SPEAKER_02 56:59

Oh peace.

SPEAKER_06 57:03

Oh heavily peace.

SPEAKER_02 57:13

All you gotta do is say one word. And there is peace. The peace!

SPEAKER_10 57:21

The peace will understand the peace. Oh give you this piece. Oh peace!