Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Chistmas To All!

When I was in primary school, the end of year concert was dominated by some wonderful Australian Christmas songs. Here's three of my favourites.

Christmas Day
The North Wind is tossing the leaves,
The red dust is over the town,
The sparrows are under the eaves,
And the grass in the paddock is brown;
As we lift up our voices and sing
To the Christ-Child the Heavenly King.

The tree-ferns in green gullies sway;
The cool stream flows silently by;
The joy bells are greeting the day,
And the chimes are adrift in the sky,
As we lift up our voices and sing
To the Christ-Child the Heavenly King.


Carol of The Birds

Out on the plains the brolgas are dancing,
Lifting their feet like war horses prancing,
Up to the sun the woodlarks go winging,
Faint in the dawn light echoes their singing,
Orana! Orana!Orana! To Christmas Day.

Down where the tree-ferns grow by the river,
There where the waters sparkle and quiver,
Deep in the gullies Bell-birds are chiming,
Softly and sweetly their lyric notes rhyming
Orana! Orana!Orana! To Christmas Day.

Friar-birds sip the nectar of flowers,
Currawongs chant in wattle-tree bowers,
In the blue ranges Lorikeets calling,
Carols of bushlands rising and falling,
Orana! Orana!Orana! To Christmas Day.


Christmas Bush for His Adorning

All the bells are gaily ringing,
Birds in every tree are singing;
Let us in the golden weather,
Gather Christmas Bush together.
Christ is born! The angels thunder,
Thru’ the Heavens their tale of wonder,
While we pluck for His adorning
Christmas Bush this hallowed morning.

Christ has conquered Evil’s power
Hear the bells rock every tower
Birds and beasts lift up their voices,
Freed at last the world rejoices.
Onward with triumphant chorus,
Following the road before us,
Singing thru’ the golden weather,
Gath’ring Christmas Bush together.

My sincere thanks to A Growing Delight who posted these and more on her site, bringing back some wonderful memories.

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a New Year filled with hope and joy.

4 comments:

  1. I 'think' I know the last one. Gosh, makes me feel un-Australian!

    :o)

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  2. The North Wind stirred my memory up of when my children were attending school singing that very song...just beautiful...Happy Christmas Eve to you Ann...Dzintra

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  3. Memories are made of this, The Three Drovers, Sunday School. Children's Christmas plays, thanks for the memory

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  4. Just wishing you a wonderful New Year. Glad to hear your Christmas was a wonderful one.
    I can't say I know any of the songs being American, but they look lovely.
    Take care,
    Debra

    ReplyDelete

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