I am excited to share some devotions with you all on some of my favorite Christmas Carols. I’m using carols from a collection that has come to be known as “The Alfred Burt Carols”. Alfred Burt was an American Jazz musician who composed 15 Christmas Carols between 1942 and 1954. Alfred continued a tradition that his father, Reverend Bates Burt, an Episcopal priest, started in 1926, of writing a Christmas carol to send each year as the family Christmas card. As we go through the week, I’ll share more information about the Burt family and encourage you to go to the wonderful world of YouTube and locate and listen to the carols.
The first carol I’ll share is likely to be the most popular of the 15 Alfred Burt Carols. Due, in part, to the successful release of the song on Nat King Cole’s “The Magic of Christmas” album in 1960, “Caroling, Caroling” was written in 1954. One of the last carols to be composed by Alfred, the lyrics were supplied by close family friend, Wihla Hutson. You’ll see all the right ingredients for a successful Christmas Carol in the lyrics: bells, snow, cheer, gladsome tidings, a star, the King of Heaven, etc. Some of my favorite lines include: “sing the sad of heart to cheer” and “sing we all this happy morn, ‘Lo, the King of Heav’n is born!’”
Caroling, caroling, now we go,
Christmas bells are ringing.
Caroling, caroling, through the snow,
Christmas bells are ringing.
Joyous voices sweet and clear,
sing the sad of heart to cheer.
Ding, dong, ding, dong!
Christmas bells are ringing.Caroling, caroling, through the town;
Christmas bells are ringing.
Caroling, caroling, up and down,
Christmas bells are ringing.
Mark ye well the song we sing.
Gladsome tidings now we bring.
Ding, dong, ding, dong!
Christmas bells are ringing.Caroling, caroling, near and far;
Christmas bells are ringing.
Following, following yonder star,
Christmas bells are ringing.
Sing we all this happy morn:
“Lo, the King of Heav’n is born!”
Ding, dong, ding, dong!
Christmas bells are ringing.
Prayer
God of Caroling, we do sing this happy morn, “Lo, the King of Heav’n is born!”. May our songs help bring cheer to the sad of heart, as You have done for us. Be with us this Christmastide: lead us to follow yonder star and may we never stop hearing the Christmas bells. Amen.