A winter story from Stephen Butt's creative wbsites

In the autumn of 1962, the husband and wife musical partnership of Noel Regney and Gloria Shane Baker wrote a song which was to become a world-wide Christmas hit Normally, Gloria wrote the words and Noel would write the music, but on this occasion, it was Noel who wrote the lyrics for this song It was the time of the Cuban missile crisis when many felt that nuclear war was likely rather than possible. Noel took the theme of Christ’s nativity – a child born to be king in an occupied land, who would bring peace to the world - and brought it into the Cold War era. He saw mothers pushing their babies in pushchairs on the sidewalks of New York City and wondered what the future would bring for those children The song brought so much emotion to Regney and Baker that at the time neither could sing it in public in its entirety It has since sold tens of millions of copies and has been performed by hundreds of different artists Musically, it has all the hallmarks of a song written for the mass-market. It is a simple melody with a haunting memorable repeating refrain; but Gloria’s clever melody also echoes the music of the past, suggesting ancient modal harmonies; and she chose to write it in a dance rhythm
		Now you know the story, read the words and then listen once again to this song - and see what you think. You can listen to this song here Don't worry, this is a totally legal download!

Said the night wind to the little lamb: Do you see what I see? 'Way up in the sky, little lamb, Do you see what I see? A star, a star Dancing in the night, With a tail as big as a kite. Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy: Do you hear what I hear? Ringing through the sky, shepherd boy, Do you hear what I hear? A song, a song High above the tree, With a voice as big as the sea.		Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king: Do you know what I know? In your palace warm, mighty king, Do you know what I know? A Child, a Child Shivers in the cold, Let us bring Him silver and gold. Said the king to the people ev'rywhere: Listen to what I say! Pray for peace, people ev'rywhere, Listen to what I say! The Child, the Child Sleeping in the night. He will bring us goodness and light.

tempus omnia revelat time reveals all history, imagination and a touch of magic from Leicestershire in the English East Midlands		History, heritage and creativity in images and words on six distinctive websites Website design and content © Stephen Butt 2010 Mobile - 07982 845112 Send an email Revised 21/01/10