Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings
Christmas 2008
December 5
"We Wish You A Merry Christmas" is another very old carol, and though it mentions Christmas, is completely secular. In fact, other than wishing one a merry Christmas and happy new year, this carol is mainly concerned with extracting payment from those listening in the form of figgy pudding. Not quite as inspired as some other carols in this vein (wassail songs come to mind), but a classic nonetheless. I had real trouble recording this; it took quite a few takes to get a decent one. Be sure to read the descriptions in the source linked below, the first two are especially amusing.
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Words: English traditional, 16th century
Music: English folk song
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!
Refrain
Good tidings we bring for you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year!
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
And a cup of good cheer!
Refrain
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!
Refrain
We all like our figgy pudding;
We all like our figgy pudding;
We all like our figgy pudding;
With all its good cheer.
Refrain
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!
Refrain