The History of Some Well-Loved Christmas Songs
The Stories Behind Your Christmas Favorites
Dec 4, 2008
During the holidays, people enjoy traditional songs that they do not listen to during the rest of the year. Many of these songs have long and interesting histories. Here are the “biographies” of a few favorite Christmas songs:
History of “I’ll be Home for Christmas”
This song was first made popular by Bing Crosby in 1943. It touched a nerve for families and servicemen in the United States, England, Canada and other English-speaking nations who were fighting in World War two, and the song was one of the most-requested at U.S.O. shows. It has since been recorded by numerous artists, including Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Buffet, Johnny Cash and Toby Keith. It was made into a 1998 movie starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
History of “Silent Night”
The words to this very popular Christmas song were first written in 1816 by an Austrian Priest, Josef Mohr. Naturally, the words were in German and the song was titled “Stille Nacht,” or “Silent Night.” The music was added in 1818 and the song was first performed in December of 1818 in the St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. It was accompanied by guitar. In 1863, John Freeman Young translated the song into English and it has remained a staple of the Christmas season ever since. It has been recorded by hundreds of artists, including Bing Crosby, Enya and Clay Aiken.
History of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
This one is a good example of a Christmas song that has evolved over time. The original words were written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, a hymnist and leader of the Methodist Church. The original opening phrase was “Hark! How all the welkin rings/Glory to the King of Kings.” The music we associate with the song was added in 1840, and the tune and lyrics have undergone several changes over the years.
History of “Do you hear what I hear?”
This classic was first written in 1962 by the music/lyrics combination of Gloria Shayne Baker and Noel Regney. The plea for peace that is central to the song is a response to the tension of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which took place in September of 1962. It was recorded and released in 1962 by Harry Simeone, but became a far bigger hit the following year when it was recorded by Bing Crosby. Since then, numerous artists have covered it, including Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Rosie O’Donnell (with special guest Elmo the muppet).
History of “Blue Christmas”
This Christmas classic is typically associated with Elvis Presley, although the truth is that it had been around for a decade or so before “the King” recorded his version. It was written by Bill Hayes and Jay Johnson and was first recorded in 1948 by country music legend Ernest Tubb. Elvis recorded his version in 1957 and released it on Elvis’ Christmas Album, which spent four weeks at #1 on the charts. It has since been recorded by such diverse artists as Dean Martin and Billy Idol.
The next time you hear these favorites, remember their long and interesting histories!
To read about the histories of "White Christmas," "Good King Wenceslas," "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire)" and "Deck the Halls," click here.
To read about the histories of "Little Drummer Boy," "O Holy Night," "Winter Wonderland," "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "Jingle Bells," click here.
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