all around me are familiar facesworn out places, worn out facesbright and early for their daily racesgoing nowhere, going nowheretheir tears are filling up their glassesno expression, no expressionhide my head I want to drown my sorrowno tomorrow, no tomorrow

and I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever hadI find it hard to tell you , I find it hard to take
when people run in circles. . .it's a very, very mad world mad world

children waiting for the day they feel goodand I feel the way that every child shouldsit and listen, sit and listen
went to school and I was very nervous,
no one knew me, no one knew mehello teacher, tell me what's my lessonlook right through me, look right through me

and I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad
the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
when people run in circles
it's a very, very mad world

GARY JULES

have yourself a merry little Christmaslet your heart be light
from now on our troubles will be out of sight

have yourself a merry little Christmasfrom now on our troubles will be miles away

here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yorefaithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us once more

through the years we all will be togetherif the Fates* allow
hang a shining star upon the highest boughand have yourself a merry little Christmas now

COLDPLAY

or
FRANK

or
ELLA

or
that blonde chick

*there are three Fates:

"Clotho, the spinner, who spins the thread of life; Lachesis, the measurer, who choses the lot in life one will have and measures off how long it is to be; Atropos, she who cannot be turned, who at death with her shears cuts the thread of life. . ."

rockin' around the Christmas Bush

or - never buy your tree sight unseen

oh well!! at least we have a tree!! and there were plenty of offcuts to decorate the mantel piece with (I'm sure you're relieved to know that) (and some for the hearth too) (yes, and some more left over. . . darn apple shaped tree); anyhoo, now I'm singing this:

rocking around the Christmas Tree at the Christmas party hop
mistletoe hung where you can see, ev'ry couple tries to stop
you will get a sentimental feeling when you hear voices singing
"Let's be jolly! Deck the halls with boughs of holly". . .
rocking around the Christmas Tree, let the Christmas Spirit ring
later we'll have some pumpkin pie and we'll do some caroling
rocking around the Christmas Tree
have a happy holiday everyone's dancing merrily
in a new old fashioned way

BRENDA LEE

and I recall a more amusing version. . .

(-:

was a long and dark December
from the rooftops I remember
there was snow, white snow; clearly I remember
from the windows they were watching
while we froze down below
when the future's architectured
by a carnival of idiots on show you'd better lie low
if you love me - won't you let me know?

was a long and dark December
when the banks became cathedrals and the fog became God
priests clutched onto bibles and went out to fit their rifles
and the cross was held aloft, bury me in honor
when I'm dead and hit the ground a love back home unfolds
if you love me - won't you let me know?

I don't want to be a soldier with the captain of some sinking ship
with snow, far below; so if you love me why'd you let me go?

I took my love down to Violet Hill
there we sat in snow; all that time he was silent still
so if you love me - won't you let me know?

if you love me,
won't you let me know?

COLDPLAY

may all your troubles soon be gone

Christmas night, another fight, tears we've cried are flood
got all kinds of poison in my bloodI took my feet to Oxford street trying to right a wrong
just walk away from those windows
but I can't believe she's gone
but when you're still waiting for the snow to fall,
doesn't really feel like Christmas at alla group of candles in me are flickering, oh they flicker and they flowand I am up here holding on to all those chandeliers of hopeand like some drunk in this city I go singing out of tune
singing how I always loved you darling and how I always will
but when you're still waiting for the snow to fall,
doesn't really feel like Christmas at all
those Christmas lights light up the streetdown where the sea and city meet
may all your troubles soon be gone
ohh Christmas lights, keep shining onthose Christmas lights, light up the street
maybe they'll bring her back to me, then all my troubles will be goneohh Christmas lights, keep shining onohh Christmas lights, light up the streets
light up the fireworks in me, may all your troubles soon be gone
those Christmas lights keep shining on

COLDPLAY

I want to share with you something

haunting

there are things I don't do here, religion politics sex, but whatever your beliefs, I hope you join me in acknowledging the beauty of these carols

it's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace I wish I had a river I could skate away on
but it don't snow here, it stays pretty green
gonna make a lot of money, then I'm gonna quit this crazy scene. . .
I wish I had a river so wide, I would teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river I could skate away on
'cause I made my baby cryyou tried hard to help me and you put me at ease
then loved me so naughty, made me weak in my knees. . .
I'm so hard to handle, I'm selfish and I'm sad
now I lost the best baby that I ever had. . .
I wish I had a river so wide I could teach my feet to fly
I wish I had a river that I could skate away on
'cause I made my baby say goodbye

JONI MITCHELL

as sung by SARAH McLACHLAN

not my typical weekend

The Teens are with me!

so X is stuck in Manhattan, thus he missed Teen Too's 15th birthday. . . I wrapped up all sorts of nonsense, it's weird a teenage birthday - there's nothing he really wants or needs (lucky chap!) but he still expects presents; after the disaster of the gifts (why would he not like Sponge Bob Square Pants pj trousers, I ask you?) I regained my status as super celebrating birthday mother by making a rather splendid chocolate cake and we also ordered in pizzas (yeay! no washing up!); his father phoned and everyone had a chat; X told me that just outside his office was one of my favourite pieces of art. . .

anyway, it's all put in mind of a song, one of my favourites

as I was trudging along today

I saw a walnut shell in the gutterit reminded me of those little boats you make when you're a child to race across the bird bath when the ice has melted (remember being able to lift off a whole piece of ice without it breaking?) for some reason, this made me look up - there was a clear blue sky above me! and then a song started spinning around in my head

(-:

I saw three ships come sailing in, on Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
I saw three ships come sailing in, on Christmas Day in the morning. . .And what was in those ships all three? On Christmas Day. . .
Our Saviour Christ and his lady, on Christmas Day. . .
Pray whither sailed those ships all three? On Christmas Day. . .
Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem, on Christmas Day. . .
And all the bells on earth shall ring, on Christmas Day. . .
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing, on Christmas Day. . .
And all the souls on earth shall sing, on Christmas Day. . .
Then let us all rejoice, amen, on Christmas Day. . .

for your listening pleasure, your choice of
NAT KING COLE or STING
or TRADITIONAL CHOIRBOYS!!

I hope something made you* smile unexpectedly today!

XXX

.
(*yes! you!!)

Christmas kitsch

if this hummel could sing

it'd be singing Pie Jesu

this version! (thanks to Vicus)
(exactly what I was looking for. . .)

(another version is somewhere on this track) (but the rest is worth a listen) (if you like that kind of thing) (which you may or may not) (actually, this one is worth a listen too) (choice people! I offer you choice!!)(and so does Vicus!)

oh the weather outside is frightful,
but the fire is so delightful,and since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

it doesn't show signs of stopping,
and I've bought some corn for popping,the lights are turned way down low,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

when we finally kiss goodnight,
how I'll hate going out in the storm!but if you'll really hold me tight,
All the way home I'll be warm.

the fire is slowly dying,
and, my dear, we're still" good-bye"ing,
but as long as you love me so,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

DEAN MARTIN