It's in the singing of a street-corner choir
It's going home and getting warm by the fire
It's true, wherever you find love,
It feels like Christmas!

A cup of kindness that we share with anoter
A sweet reunion with a friend or a brother
In all the places you find love,
It feels like Christmas!

It is the season of the heart
A special time of caring
The ways of love made clear
And it is the season of the spirit
The message, if we hear it,
Is, "Make it last all year!"

It's in the giving of a gift to another
A pair of mittens that were made by your mother
It's all the ways that we show love
That feel like Christmas

A part of childhood we'll always remember
It is the summer of the soul in December
Yes, when you do your best for love,
It feels like Christmas!

It is the season of the heart
A special time of caring
The ways of love made clear
It is the season of the spirit
The message, if we hear it,
Is, "Make it last all year!"

It's in the singing of a street-corner choir
It's going home and getting warm by the fire
It's true, wherever you find love,
It feels like Christmas!

It's true, wherever you find love,
It feels like Christmas

It feels like Christmas!

It feels like Christmas!

It feels like Christmas!

-The Ghost of Christmas Present
         The Muppet Christmas Carol

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I am ever so everlastingly fond of this movie.

Upon learning that there would be a showing of it on base, I told all my friends, and two even condescended to come with me. And put up with my glowing like a nightlight through the whole thing and lip-syncing with every song lyric. Such a happy little person I am now.

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree

I just want you for my own,
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you!

I don't want a lot for Christmas
There is just one thing I need
I don't care about the presents
Underneath the Christmas tree

I don't need to hang my stocking
There up on the fireplace
Santa Claus won't make me happy
With a toy on Christmas day

I just want you for my own,
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true;
All I want for Christmas is you!

I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow
I'm just gonna keep on waiting
Underneath the mistletoe

I won't make a list and send it
To the North Pole for St. Nick
I won't even stay awake
To hear those magic reindeer click

I just want you here tonight
Holding on to me so tight
What more can I do?
All I want for Christmas is you!

Oh, the lights are shining so brightly everywhere
And the sound of children's laughter fills the air
And everyone is singing, I hear those sleigh bells ringing
Santa, won't you bring me the one I really need?
Won't you please bring my baby to me?

I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for:
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door

Oh, I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true!
Baby, all I want for Christmas
Is
You!

All I want for Christmas is you, baby
All I want for Christmas is you, baby
All I want for Christmas is you, baby
All I want for Christmas is you, baby

-Mariah Carey

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I realize she's not the original writer, but with the exception of the one on Love Actually, hers is my favorite rendition of this song. No, nobody special in mind, just one song I love having on when I'm decorating the house. It's fun to speculate about what might happen, when you know that you won't be disappointed even if it doesn't.

Also, I hadn't really thought about how demanding the lyrics were before, but sheesh, she doesn't really give him much of a choice in the matter, does she?

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day!
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning!

And what was on those ships all three
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was on those ships all three
On Christmas Day in the morning?

Our Savior Christ and his Lady
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day!
Our Savior Christ and his Lady
On Christmas Day in the morning!

And where then sailed those ships all three
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And where then sailed those ships all three
On Christmas Day in the morning?

Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day!
Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem
On Christmas Day in the morning!

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day!
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning!

And all the bells on Earth shall ring
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day!
And all the bells on Earth shall ring
On Christmas Day in the morning!

And all the angels in Heaven shall sing
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day!
And all the angels in Heaven shall sing
On Christmas Day in the morning!

Then all the souls on Earth shall sing
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day!
Then all the souls on Earth shall sing
On Christmas Day in the morning!

Then let us all rejoice again
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day!
Then let us all rejoice again
On Christmas Day in the morning!

-Traditional English carol

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On the academic side, I believe Bethlehem sits in a mountain range. There's no harbor there. Christ's "Lady" could refer to either the Virgin Mary, or his bride the Church - either one asks the question, "Why then three ships?" The repetitive nature of the lyrics suggests that the song is meant to be performed for people to pick up and sing easily.

Okay, that just stuffs all the fun out of this one. I actually didn't know at the time that this one originated in Victorian England (though it makes sense). I'm from a family that takes some pride in our Irish heritage, and I've heard many a Christmas carol adapted to the familiar Irish style of music, so I grew up thinking that this one (one of my favorites, due to its celebratory feel) was a traditional Irish carol.

But, either way, it makes me happy.

Remember last Christmas Eve
When we sat next to our first tree?
Ornaments reflected light
Of a candle in the night
And I gave you a music box
Back then, it seemed like so much
We watched it go 'round and 'round
As the melodies, they unwound
But all these things are now long gone
And not to be wished upon again

But the music box continues to turn
Candle in the window continues to burn
But I know they're just memories
Of Christmas past, girl, you and me

Remember that old fireplace
That held the room in warm embrace?
As we watched for Christmas ghosts
The fire held those shadows close
And now upon this Christmas Eve
The candle wax of melted dreams
The ornaments of shattered glass
Now belonging to the past
All these things now long gone
And not to be wished upon again

But the music box continues to turn
The candle in the window continues to burn
But I know they're just memories
Like Christmas past, girl, you and me

I miss you, baby
Oh, yes, I do
And it's been far too long, girl
Since I last laid eyes on you
 
I got the lights upon the Christmas tree
I got the candle lit for you to see
And beside this window I will wait
For inside this night it's not too late

I got the lights upon the Christmas tree
(the candle's burning!)
I got the candle lit for you to see
(you know I'm gonna wait)
And beside this window I will wait
(the clock it's turning!)
For inside this night it's not too late
(But I know it's not, I know it's not too late)

I got the lights upon the Christmas tree
I got the candle lit for you to see
And beside this window I will wait
For inside this night it's not too late


-Trans-Siberian Orchestra, "The Christmas Attic"
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It seems that Christmas memories can't be remembered without the memories with him.

And not to be wished upon again...

My beloved monster and me
We go everywhere together
Wearing a raincoat that has four sleeves
Gets us through all kinds of weather

She will always be the only thing
That comes between me and the awful sting
That comes from living in a world
That's so damn mean

My beloved monster is tough
If she wants, she will disrobe you
But if you lay her down for a kiss
Her little heart, it could explode

She will always be the only thing
That comes between me and the awful sting
That comes from living in a world
That's so damn mean

-Eels

-----

So, while I'm still a tremendously cheerful person, I can tell that I'm changing as a person, and I think I'm in the process of becoming somebody's beloved monster. At least, as described here.