popsrocks's Full Review: Have a Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives
My family celebrates Christmas and we start playing music soon after Thanksgiving.
One Man, One Song Starts the Season For Me
There's one album, one song and one voice that brings in the holiday season in for me. That is the title song of the album Have a Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives.
Though the song does not celebrate the birth of Jesus as the holiday does, it does provide a good feeling of giving to each other, even if it is just a friendly hello.
I happen to be one of Santa's helpers again during the holidays. I happen to do it professionally at a major NYC hotel that features "Breakfast With Santa" every weekend in December. There is something about Burl Ives face and manner that rings of that true Santa feeling. He had a jolly face with twinkling eyes and even had a white beard.
Ives was an old time and long time actor and pop/folk singer who played with artists like Josh White and Woody Guthrie. He also narrated the movie "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". His smooth folksy voice brings a warm cheer especially along with the spirited words of "Holly Jolly Christmas". He and the song both inspire me to be the "real" Santa.
More Than Just One Song
The CD has some traditional songs expected on seasonal albums but it also has a few gems that I hadn't ever heard on other albums.
Christmas is a Birthday is one of them. It is a simple finger-picking guitar back ground that accompanies his voice. A chorus joins in later. This is a song expecting believers to praise the "baby boy born Christmas Day".
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town is the type of song we expect. He plays a bit with the words ..."and I'm a-telling you why. Santa Claus is a-coming to town.
He's a-making a list, he's a-checking it twice he's gonna find out who's a-naughty whose nice, cause Santa Claus is a-coming to town."
Another different and folksy tune is Christmas Child (Loo Loo Loo) where he tells the story of hearing a knock on his door at midnight and finding a baby at his door step. He takes the baby into the night he hears church bells and sees the bright sky much more clear than he ever did before.
Years later he remembers that night and finds a note that says.
"Please whoever finds my child be good to him and kind.
God Bless you" is all it said, Mary it was signed.
The dream of a White Christmas is always charming and the song is loved by so many since it was first recorded by Bing Crosby and became the most played and biggest selling single ever. Burl Ives gives it his special touch.
That favorite is followed by another quiet but uplifting song. Christmas Can't Be far Away. This song is reaction to what he sees on the streets as people are being more friendly to each other as December 25th nears. To me it is like everyone listened to the opening song on the album suggesting everyone have a holly jolly Christmas and greet each other.
There is always something sweet about the song The Little Drummer Boy who gives his best, and his best is drumming his little drum.
Much more upbeat is Burl Ives singing a tale Snow for Johnny a little boy who is praying for snow so he can build a big snowman. More of the same such fun is continued in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
The vision of a perfect snowy night seems to be an answer to Johnny's prayers earlier on the album is, Walking in a Winter Wonderland.
Once again the same snowy Christmas feeling comes through but in the next song it's in the city hearing Silver Bells
I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day that highlights the words "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men" was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow during the American Civil War.
After quoting "Peace on Earth Good Will to Men", he continued...
...And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Well Paired Songs
Ives decided to use classic songs along with more obscure folk tales to round out this album. The choice of songs and the positioning of them on the CD has always made it an excellent Christmas album that is easy to listen to and joyful and uplifting in its message. Burl Ives voice completes it.
So in the spirit of Christmas and Santa I'll state as Burl Ives did,
"Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.
It's the best time of the year
I don't know,
if there'll be snow
but have a cup of cheer
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
and when you're walking down the street
say hello
to friends you know
and everyone you meet"
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