Big Balls of Holly

The Boar's Head Carol

The first of the traditional carols that I will be posting. This elegant version performed by The Chieftains.

The Boar's Head

The boar's head in hand bear I
Bedecked with bays and rosemary
I pray you, my masters, be merry
Quot estis in convivio

CHORUS: Caput apri defero, Reddens laudes domino

The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the rarest dish in all the land,
Which thus bedecked with a gay garland
Let us servire cantico.

CHORUS

Our steward hath provided this
In honor of the King of bliss
Which, on this day to be served is
In Reginensi atrio

Auld Lang Syne

Auld Lang Syne is a celebratory song that brings to mind recollections of important and emotional events. The song was composed by Robert Burns, Scotland, in the last decade of the 18th Century. In America we have sung Auld Lang Syne to usher in the New Year since big band leader Guy Lombardo included it in his New Years Eve radio broadcasts, starting in 1929. That was the year that the stock market crashed, and indeed, Auld Lang Syne was a sobering, not celebratory, reminder of days gone by. 

Burns’ verse:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
And gies a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willie-waught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

There are 3 additional verses, but they are rarely sung. For me, Auld Lang Syne is essential Christmas listening, linked irrevocably to the Holiday by the movie, It's A Wonderful Life.

Today, I will share five versions of the song. First, the Guy Lombardo version, imagine this live on the radio! Second, the popular live version sung buy Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin from the Christmas With the Ratpack album. Third, is the version from It's A Wonderful Life which includes the famous line..."Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." Fourth, a real gem from the old Edison Cylinders; Frank C. Stanley, recorded in 1910! And last, but not forgotten, a version by Dropkick Murphys, an Irish American punk band from Quincy, Mass. I mainly listen to traditional Christmas music, and I don't often like it when popular bands mess with Christmas songs. I like this version because the band really brings a lot of energy to the song, a true celebration.

Oh, and don't get the wrong idea, I like all kinds of CRAZY versions of traditional songs. Here is something neat. Even the circa 1910 version embraces the mistaken line that has been sung by audiences as long as anyone can remember, 'For the sake of Auld Lang Syne'. (Wikipedia assures me that professional choirs never do this.) Enjoy :0)

Guy Lombardo, Auld Lang Syne

Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin (Live)

From: It's A Wonderful Life

Frank C. Stanley, c. 1910, (indestructible record 1267)

Dropkick Murphys