I cannot sing along to this song without crying. I've tried so many times. I don't know why. It just hits at the heart of so much social strife in this country. So beautifully and with tenderness toward all. Dar has a genius for that.
(I see what you did there, changing a lyric a wee bit). The first time I heard the song, I was going to pick up a friend in crazy Christmas Eve traffic. Bill Richardson (CBC) played this song. I almost drove off the road laughing at the pumpkin pie line and crying with the rest of it.
This song gets to the point of every faith tradition on the planet: love. We are called to love each other; we are called to embrace each other in our many differences. The ecumenical reach of love transcends our differences,as the only differences which truly divide us are differences only in our mind. So, Happy Yule, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, and a blessed New Year!
(For future context, I'm in Pennsylvania in the US, and today is 2 Aug 2024. Things have been a little tense here.) I was JUST thinking about this song yesterday. Didn't mention it outloud, didn't google anything remotely related, didn't hum a few bars, nothing. And yet, here is Dar Williams in a video from three years ago on my phone singing a song that hadn't crossed my mind in a bit. I needed to hear this tonight. Have I cried along with this song in the past? Sure. But tonight, I was fine. And then she changed out that one verse at the end, and whew, yeah, the eyes started watering. Obviously, it's not a brand new change up considering the age of the video, but for me, it was the first time I had heard it. Emotional reaction achieved. ✌🏻
Here are the lyrics: Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday, Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay." And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree, He watched his son hang candy canes all made with Red Dye No. 3. He told his niece, "Its Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style, " She said, "Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and its been awhile." So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table, Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able, And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said, Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses. The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch, Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a wtich?" His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning, " and she hit the kitchen, And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true, your cousin's not a Christian, " "But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share, And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere, " So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table, Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able, And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning, 'Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning. When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother." Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father. He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year, He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas, and your daughter's here." He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve, saying, "Can I be a Pagan?" Dad said, "We'll discuss it when they leave." So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table, Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able, Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold. Source: LyricFind
We find magic everywhere...trees, snow, the world we share...finding faith and common ground the best that we are able! May it be so in this year of 2020 madness! This song gives me hope!
This is my absolute favorite song for this time of year. It speaks such a beautiful truth and its so warming and wholesome. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season no matter what religion you practice. Peace and love on earth Blessed be )○(
Thank you for a live version. Like others who have commented, I share this every year. The most beautiful Yule gift I've ever gotten was a Nativity set he'd bought for his Catholic wife.
As a pagan myself I see this less of a song about Paganism and Christianity and more for a song of all religions and how we are all human. Since Muslims have been under fire with a large group of people being vocal with ate for the certain religious group I feel that they added Muslims into the song as a way to reference that they, like the Christians and the Pagans, are still human.
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As a pagan who has Christian friends, this song resonates with me. Great song.
I cannot sing along to this song without crying. I've tried so many times. I don't know why. It just hits at the heart of so much social strife in this country. So beautifully and with tenderness toward all. Dar has a genius for that.
Same.
Me too it’s a good thing.
I'm Jewish and I also cry to the song. It's all about families.
Mark Walshin the Muslims and the Jewish
I’m sorry I’ll leave
It's not just me!
I first heard this song in 1994. It made me cry, and it changed my view on life and human beings. I still play it for my family, my children, etc.
I've been posting this song on FB every year for a very long time. Lovely to have a live version. Never gets old. Thank you.
(I see what you did there, changing a lyric a wee bit). The first time I heard the song, I was going to pick up a friend in crazy Christmas Eve traffic. Bill Richardson (CBC) played this song. I almost drove off the road laughing at the pumpkin pie line and crying with the rest of it.
HUZZAH!!
me too ! Along with "The Rebel Jesus" by Jackson Browne and "Solstice Bells " Jethro Tull!
Same about the yearly posting! For years, as my fave.
I always post this ever Solstice
This song gets to the point of every faith tradition on the planet: love. We are called to love each other; we are called to embrace each other in our many differences. The ecumenical reach of love transcends our differences,as the only differences which truly divide us are differences only in our mind. So, Happy Yule, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyous Kwanzaa, and a blessed New Year!
My favorite Dar Williams song. Thanks for posting the live version!
Only heard Dar tonight - I never knew....what a wonderful talent and touching real music
This song is a brilliant, peaceful stroke in such a deep way. It touches me every single time I hear it. Beautiful and perfect. Thank you for the post
(For future context, I'm in Pennsylvania in the US, and today is 2 Aug 2024. Things have been a little tense here.)
I was JUST thinking about this song yesterday. Didn't mention it outloud, didn't google anything remotely related, didn't hum a few bars, nothing. And yet, here is Dar Williams in a video from three years ago on my phone singing a song that hadn't crossed my mind in a bit.
I needed to hear this tonight. Have I cried along with this song in the past? Sure. But tonight, I was fine.
And then she changed out that one verse at the end, and whew, yeah, the eyes started watering.
Obviously, it's not a brand new change up considering the age of the video, but for me, it was the first time I had heard it.
Emotional reaction achieved. ✌🏻
Here are the lyrics:
Amber called her uncle, said "We're up here for the holiday,
Jane and I were having Solstice, now we need a place to stay."
And her Christ-loving uncle watched his wife hang Mary on a tree,
He watched his son hang candy canes all made with Red Dye No. 3.
He told his niece, "Its Christmas Eve, I know our life is not your style, "
She said, "Christmas is like Solstice, and we miss you and its been awhile."
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said,
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses.
The food was great, the tree plugged in, the meal had gone without a hitch,
Till Timmy turned to Amber and said, "Is it true that you're a wtich?"
His mom jumped up and said, "The pies are burning, " and she hit the kitchen,
And it was Jane who spoke, she said, "It's true, your cousin's not a Christian, "
"But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share,
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere, "
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
And where does magic come from? I think magic's in the learning,
'Cause now when Christians sit with Pagans only pumpkin pies are burning.
When Amber tried to do the dishes, her aunt said, "Really, no, don't bother."
Amber's uncle saw how Amber looked like Tim and like her father.
He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year,
He thought he'd call him up and say, "It's Christmas, and your daughter's here."
He thought of fathers, sons and brothers, saw his own son tug his sleeve, saying,
"Can I be a Pagan?" Dad said, "We'll discuss it when they leave."
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table,
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able,
Lighting trees in darkness, learning new ways from the old, and
Making sense of history and drawing warmth out of the cold.
Source: LyricFind
Thank you for adding the lyrics! 😊
Yes thank you!
Thanks
The. Best. Christmas. Song. Ever.
Yes! Been saying that every year!😊
We find magic everywhere...trees, snow, the world we share...finding faith and common ground the best that we are able! May it be so in this year of 2020 madness! This song gives me hope!
I cry EVERY single time. Every time!
the feeling goes deep.
Such a deeply meaningful song. Thank you Dar Williams.
I post this every year. Thank you for being the conversation starter for me and my Christian family members...
Me, too.
I never heard this song before. It was beautiful.
This is my absolute favorite song for this time of year. It speaks such a beautiful truth and its so warming and wholesome. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season no matter what religion you practice. Peace and love on earth
Blessed be )○(
Jethro Tull's "A Christmas Song" runs a very close second for me. :)
An eternal holiday song for me. I dream of a day when this is a picture of my family.
Thank you for a live version. Like others who have commented, I share this every year. The most beautiful Yule gift I've ever gotten was a Nativity set he'd bought for his Catholic wife.
Peace on earth for ALL. In the end we are all ONE. I love this song and love the message! So mote it be, Brightest Blessings.
I love Dar Williams!!! She is so amazing!
Dar, please understand "immeasurable" because that is your impact. ❤
I saw your performance 2 nights ago at The Ark in Ann Arbor. Dar, your voice is pure and your lyrics are beautiful and thought provoking. Thankyou!
One of my most favorite songs of all time ❤
I loved this song from the very beginning Dar Williams album!
All my heart. 🥰🙃
Only pumpkin- pies were burning...Love this
Oh my goddess this always makes me SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOB I love this song so so much!
Me too!!
I really want to sing this at my catholic school talent show if they have one this year. Imma bout to either be congratulated or expelled lol
Go for it! It will teach your teachers a thing or two about the humanity they should be embracing.
Hahaha
Thank you. Luv it. There is a time and a place, and Thanksgiving isn't one of them...and Happy Thanksgiving!
Love this song, very beautiful.
So good,
Brilliant!
Play this at Christmas ahaha one heck of a way out the broom closet >..
I sing a very slow, Dick Gaughan-like, style of this song...really really love it.
Who are the backing musicians?
Dear comment reader!:
You should watch the cover by Momo O’Brien!
thats why i am here achally :)
@@callukcraft yep
subscript please, elders can't hear the words.
Never noticed before but put red hair on Dar Williams and you have a spittin' imgage of Ellen McIlwaine.
Wat too much background music and noise so it doesn't have the folksy affect that it needs.
at about 2:45 the lyrics are sung - The Christians and the Muslims sat together at the table..... what happened to the pagans? oops?
Maybe because Muslims are the latest victims of attack by so-called “Christians”.
Nancy Davies Tang it's just timely. Thanks Dar.
As a pagan myself I see this less of a song about Paganism and Christianity and more for a song of all religions and how we are all human. Since Muslims have been under fire with a large group of people being vocal with ate for the certain religious group I feel that they added Muslims into the song as a way to reference that they, like the Christians and the Pagans, are still human.