A Long December

by Adam Duritz

A long December, and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember the last thing that you said as you were leaving
Now the days go by so fast

And it's one more day up in the canyon
And it's one more night in Hollywood
If you think that I could be forgiven
I wish you would

The smell of hospitals in winter
And the feeling that it's all a lot of oysters, but no pearls
All at once you look across a crowded room
To see the way that light attaches to a girl

And it's one more day up in the canyon
And it's one more night in Hollywood
If you think you might come to California
I think you should

Drove up to Hillside Manor sometime after two AM
And talked a little while about the year
I guess the winter makes you laugh a little slower
Makes you talk a little lower
About the things you could not show her

And it's been a long December, and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself
To hold on to these moments as they pass

And it's one more day up in the canyon
And it's one more night in Hollywood
It's been so long since I've seen the ocean
I guess I should

Joy to the World

by Isaac Watts

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the Earth! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!

by Joseph Mohr

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Alles schläft. Eynsam wacht
Nur das traute heilige Paar.
Holder Knab' im lockigten Haar,
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Gottes Sohn! O! wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Jesus! in deiner Geburt!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Die der Welt Heil gebracht,
Aus des Himmels goldenen Höh'n
Uns der Gnaden Fülle läßt seh'n
Jesum in Menschengestalt!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Wo sich heut alle Macht
Väterlicher Liebe ergoß
Und als Bruder huldvoll umschloß
Jesus die Völker der Welt!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Lange schon uns bedacht,
Als der Herr vom Grimme befreyt,
In der Väter urgrauer Zeit
Aller Welt Schonung verhieß!

Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut bey Ferne und Nah:
Jesus der Retter ist da!

Les anges dans nos campagnes

Traditional

Les anges dans nos campagnes
Ont entonné l'hymne des cieux;
Et l'écho de nos montagnes
Redit ce chant mélodieux.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Bergers, pour qui cette fête?
Quel est l'objet de tous ces chant?
Quel vainqueur, quelle conquête
Mérite ces cris triomphants?
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Ils annoncent la naissance
Du Libérateur d'Israël,
Et pleins de reconnaissance
Chantent en ce jour solennel.
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Bergers, loin de vos retraites
Unissez-vous à leurs concerts
Et que vos tendres musettes
Fassent retentir dans les airs:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Cherchons tous l'heureux village
Qui l'a vu naître sous ses toits,
Offrons-Lui le tendre hommage
Et de nos coeurs et nos voix!
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Dans l'humilité profonde
Ou vous paraissez à nos yeux,
Pour vous louer, Dieu du monde,
Nous redirons ce chant joyeux:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Déjà, par la bouche de l'ange,
Par les hymnes des cherubins,
Les hommes savent les louanges
Qui se chantent aux parvis divins:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Dociles à leur exemple,
Seigneur, nous viendrons désormais
Au milieu de votre temple,
Chanter avec eux vos bienfaits:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Sunday Papers

by Joe Jackson

Mother doesn't go out any more
Just sits at home and rolls her spastic eyes
But every weekend through the door
Come words of wisdom from the world outside

If you want to know about the bishop and the actress
If you want to know how to be a star
If you want to know about the stains on the mattress
You can read it in the Sunday papers

Mother's wheelchair stays out in the hall
Why should she go out when the TV's on?
Whatever moves beyond these walls
She'll know the facts when Sunday comes along

If you want to know about the mad punk rockers
If you want to know how to play guitar
If you want to know about any other suckers
You can read it in the Sunday papers

Sunday papers don't ask no questions
Sunday papers don't get no lies
Sunday papers don't raise objections
Sunday papers ain't got no eyes

Brother's heading that way now, I guess
He just read something, made his face turn blue
Well I got nothing against the press
They wouldn't print it if it wasn't true

If you want to know about the gay politician
If you want to know how to drive your car
If you want to know about the new sex position
You can read it in the Sunday papers

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen

anonymous

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
Aus einer Wurzel zart
Wie uns die Alten sungen
Von Jesse kam die Art
Und hat ein Blümlein bracht
Mitten im kalt Winter
Wohl zu halben Nacht

Das Röslein, das ich meine
Davon Jesaia sagt
Hat uns gebracht alleine
Marie die reine Magd
Aus Gottes ewgem Rat
Hat sie ein Kind geboren
Wohl zu der halben Nacht

Das Blümelein so kleine
Das duftet un so süß
Mit seinem hellen Scheine
Ver treibts die Finsternis
Wahr' Mensch und wahrer Gott
Hilft uns aus allem Leide
Rettet von Sünd un Tod

Lob, Ehr sei Gott dem Vater
Dem Sohn und heilgen Geist
Maria, Gottes Mütter
Dein Hilf an uns beweis
Und bitt dein liebes Kind
Daß es uns woll behüten
Verzeihen unser Sünd

So singen wir all Amen
Das heißt: nun werd es wahr
Was wir begehrn allsammen
O Jesu, hilf uns dar
In deines Vaters Reich
Drin wollen wir dich loben
O Gott, uns das verlieh!

Lover

by Derek Webb

Like a man comes to an altar
I came into this town
With the world upon my shoulders
And promises passed down
And I went into the water
And my father, he was pleased
I built it and I'll tear it down
So you will be set free

I found thieves and salesmen
Living in my father's house
I know how they got in here
And I know how to get them out
I'm turning this place over
From floor to balcony
Then just like these doves and sheep
You will be set free

I've always been a lover
From before I drew a breath
Some things I loved easy
And some I loved to death
See, love's no politician
'Cause it listens carefully
Of those who come, I can't lose one
So you will be set free

Go on and take my picture
Go on and make me up
I'll still be your defender
You'll be my missing son
And I'll send out an army
Just to bring you back to me
'Cause regardless of your brother's lies
You will be set free

I am my beloved's
And my beloved's mine
So you bring all your history
I'll bring the bread and wine
And we'll have us a party
Where all the drinks are on me
Then as surely as the rising sun
You will be set free

Adeste Fideles

by St. Bonaventure

Adeste fideles laeti, triumphantes;
Venite, venite in Bethlehem:
Natum videte Regem Angelorum:
Venite, adoremus Dominum.

Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine,
gestant puellae viscera,
Deum verum, genitum, non factum.
Venite, adoremus Dominum.

En grege relicto humiles ad cunas
Vocati pastores approperant:
Et nos ovanti gradu festinemus,
Venite, adoremus Dominum.

Aeterni Parentis splendorem aeternum,
Velatum sub carne videbimus,
Deum infantem pannis involutum.
Venite, adoremus Dominum.

Pro nobis egenum et foeno cubantem
Piis foveamus amplexibus:
Sic nos amantem quis non redamaret?
Venite, adoremus Dominum.

Cantet nunc Io chorus Angelorum,
Cantet nunc aula caelestium:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Venite, adoremus Dominum.

Ergo qui natus die hodierna,
Jesu, tibi sit gloria,
Patris aeterni Verbum caro factum.
Venite, adoremus Dominum.

Stella duce Magi Christum adorantes
Aurum, thus, et myrrham dant munera:
Jesu infanti corda praebeamus
Venite, adoremus Dominum.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

by Charles Wesley

Come, thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in thee
Israel's strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth thou art
Dear Desire of ev'ry nation
Joy of ev'ry longing heart

Joy to those who long to see thee
Dayspring from on high, appear
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse
Of thy birth we long to hear!
O'er the hills the angels singing news
Glad tidings of a birth
'Go to him, your praises bringing
'Christ the Lord has come to earth'

Come to earth to taste our sadness
He whose glories knew no end
By his life he brings us gladness
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend
Leaving riches without number
Born within a cattle stall
This the everlasting wonder
Christ was born the Lord of all

Born thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a king
Born to reign in us forever
Now thy gracious kingdom bring
By thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By thine all-sufficient merit
Raise us to thy glorious throne

Funny the Way It Is

by Dave Matthews

Lying in the park on a beautiful day
Sunshine in the grass and the children play
Sirens passing, fire engine red
Someone's house is burning down on a day like this

The evening comes and we're hanging out
On the front step and a car goes by with the windows rolled down
And that War song is playing, 'Why Can't We Be Friends?'
Someone is screaming and crying in the apartment upstairs

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
Somebody's going hungry, and someone else is eating out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
Somebody's heart is broken, and it becomes your favorite song

The way your mouth feels in a lover's kiss
Like a pretty bird on the breeze or water to a fish
But a bomb blast brings the building crashing to the floor
Hear the laughter while the children play war

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
One kid walks ten miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born

Standing on a bridge, watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small, compared to how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars

Watch the sky, a jet plane so far out of my reach
Is there someone up there looking down on me?
A boy chase a bird, so close, but every time
He'll never catch her, but he can't stop trying