Monday's Poetry: Christmas Songs of Peace

by Pa Rock
Poetry Appreciator

During the past week I have driven to Kansas City and back twice - trips that take nearly five hours each way.   Rosie snoozes in the heated passenger seat most of the time we are on the road, but as I have yet to acquire one of those self-driving cars, I have to remain alert and focused on the road.  I accomplish that through drinking plenty of iced tea and listening to the radio.

During these recent trips I found several radio stations that were playing holiday music exclusively.  As I listened to the songs of the season, I made a conscious effort to decide which were my favorites.   I wound up selecting two that were especially meaningful to me - one a newer song that yearns for a holiday steeped in peace, and the other a traditional holiday hymn that celebrates the birth of Christ and also glorifies the notion of peace on earth.

The first is a song written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1971.  Commonly known "And So This Is Christmas," the song's actual title is "Happy Xmas  (War is Over)," and it was written as the Vietnam War was drawing to a close.  The other selection, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" was written by Charles Wesley, the brother of John Wesley - the founder of the Methodist Church, in 1739 as a part of a hymnal which he composed.

Please enjoy these holiday favorites.


Happy Xmas  (War is Over)
by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

 

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong

And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas

And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...


Hark the Herald Angels Sing
by Charles Wesley

Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconcile.
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim
'Christ is born in Bethlehem'
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.

Christ by highest heaven adored
Christ the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail, the incarnate deity,
Pleased as Man with Man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail the Son of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.