Santa's Coming Shortly
Santa's coming shortly,
Santa's coming soon.
He told me when he rang his bell,
This frosty afternoon.
He says he's going to come at night
And tiptoe by my bed,
And fill my little stocking full,
Exactly as I said.
I wonder where he put my note?
D'you think he has a file?
It must be such a tricky job,
And such a great big pile.
But Mummy's told me not to think
Of only always me,
They're lots of others in this world
That Santa's got to see.
Santa's coming shortly,
Santa's coming soon.
He told me when he rang his bell
This frosty afternoon
He says his sack is very full
But Rudolph's very strong.
And that's why I am helping him
By singing him this song.
I tell you what I'm hoping for,
I'm asking for a fort,
With men and bows and arrows
And a moat where they get caught.
But how will Santa manage,
With Rudolph whistling by?
I think I'll ask my Daddy,
'Cos Santa's rather shy.
Santa's coming shortly,
Santa's coming soon.
He told me when he rang his bell'
This frosty afternoon
And Rudolph has a golden bell
That tinkles in the night.
I heard it as I went to sleep,
And Santa says I'm right.
Shall I leave a carrot
Or maybe just a pie?
And Rudolph says he's thirsty
I've seen it in his eye
Santa's coming shortly,
Santa's coming soon.
I know he's heard my little song
This frosty afternoon
Santa's coming shortly,
Santa's coming soon,
He told me when he rang his bell
This frosty afternoon.
WHEN is Santa coming? This is the big question. "He told me when he rang his bell this frosty afternoon"...er...to
rhyme with soon! Thanks Dick, great improvising on your whistle, recorder and bass clarinet! And your mixing Jack,
plus Santa's tiny bell at the end. Nice move. Bet you're glad Tom, we got this one on the first take - singing
this even once more could have been tricky!! September 2002
Jump Up Santa!
I'm a fine, red reindeer,
A very busy boy tonight
I'm guiding Santa on his sleigh,
Right the way through the night.
But we've got lots of work to do,
Many many miles to go,
Santa and his sack of toys,
Pulling them through the snow.
Jump up Santa!
Hold on tight!
Watch your sack of toys!
Mustn't loose them tonight.
I'm a fine, red reindeer,
A very busy boy tonight
I'm guiding Santa on his sleigh
Right the way through the night.
But I can feel the wind and snow
Biting on my little nose, "Ow!" "OOO"
I see bumps ahead
Better tell Santa now!
Heh! Ho! Santa,
Hold on tight!
I see bumps ahead
You mustn't fall off tonight!
A very busy boy tonight
I'm guiding Santa on his sleigh
Right the way through the night.
And I've got lots of bells to ring….
Ding aling a ding ding ding…
And I've got a beautiful voice tonight'
Wait 'till you hear me sing…..
Heh! Ho! Santa,
Hold on tight!
We've got toys on board
Mustn't loose them tonight!
Written during our bike trip from Rosyth to Nice during May 2003. Came to mind as we cycled along the edge of Lake
Lugano.
Long Ago In Bethlehem
Long ago in Bethlehem, a baby boy was born, I tell you
Long ago in Bethlehem in a manger all forlorn.
Hark now, the bells that ring,
Hark now the angels sing.
Christmas is here today,
Jesus is born.
Far away from Bethlehem the shepherds came to say, they'd seen
A shining light, that guided them to where the baby lay.
Hark now the bells that ring,
Hark now the angels sing.
Christmas is here today,
Jesus is born.
From the East three wise men came, gold, frankincense and myrrh.
They'd brought and laid them for the newborn babe in the stable all so bare.
Hark now the bells that ring,
Hark now the angels sing.
Christmas is here today,
Jesus is born.
When you wake on Christmas day, remember why it came to pass
'Twas Joseph and his wife Mary, who blessed the baby boy.
'Twas Joseph and his wife Mary, who blessed the baby boy.
I'm told this is one of my best songs. Hurrah!....... "Long ago" and "Bethlehem" have great
rhythm. I added in a harmony line and also some flute, with some hilarity as I can barely play it. I do love the
words frankinsence and myrrh.
My Little Panda, We'll Take You Home
I found a panda, sitting in the snow,
Why are you so lonely, I'd like to know,
Did you come from China, from there did you roam?
Why my little Panda, we'll take you home.
I saw my panda on a winter's night
All the ground was frozen, but the sky was bright.
All the stars were shining, spreading out above,
Look my little Panda, you're filled with love.
I said to Panda, reindeer gone away,
They went down in history, that's why you're to stay.
You could be my reindeer, here for evermore.
Why my little Panda, we love you more.
I said to Panda, pulling on my sleigh,
Look the stars are guiding, showing us the way.
We will see the children, tucked up in their beds,
Why my little Panda, just as I said.
I said to Panda, as we glide along,
Can you hear the children as they sing this song.
Panda, how we need you, look how you are true,
Why my little Panda, we love you too.
My little Panda, you're a guiding light,
All the stars are shining making you so bright.
We'll be going to China, back where you belong,
All the children with you, here in this song.
I heard my panda whisper in my ear,
"When we creep in quietly, they will have no fear,
I'd like to tell them, as they lie asleep,
I'm you're little Panda, one day we'll meet.
I found a panda, sitting in the snow,
We know why you're lonely, oh yes we know.
You were lost from China, now you're not alone.
That's why little Panda, we'll take you home.
23rd June 2004. The pressure was on to create two new
stories and four more songs and here we are in the
middle of summer! Must get myself into Santa mood!
Panda was sounding good. It was partly John's idea. It
was relatively easy to put together with a simple rock
beat. By this time I had the story in mind so at least
I knew what our little Panda bear was up to!
Off We Go!
So, Jump up now! 'Cos we're off to play today,
Pretending we're a Santa, riding on a sleigh.
So, off we go! 'cos we're going to say today,
"This is how we pull our sleigh!"
We'll be riding through the night, a clear bright night,
Guided by the stars, "Bright, bright, bright!"
It's "Heh! Ho! folks!" 'cos the reindeer want to say,
"This is how we pull our sleigh!"
We'll be skidding and a sliding "Ho! Ho! Ho! Ho!"
Dashing in the deep, white, white snow
It's "Off we go!" 'cos we know we're going to say,
"This is how we pull our sleigh!"
We'll be jumping like a ball, "Bounce! Bounce! Bounce! Bounce!
Shouting out at once, "Hold on tight".
It's "off we go!" 'cos we're going to say today,
"This is how we pull our sleigh!"
So, Jump up now! 'Cos we're off to play today,
Pretending we're a Santa, riding on a sleigh.
So, off we go! 'cos we know we're going to say
"This is how we pull our sleigh!" "Oh! Yes!"
24th June 2004. An absolutely foul day! Must get into
"Pulling the sleigh type of mood!" Couldn't believe I
managed to get these songs invented so press on was
the name of the game! Children love jumping around the
room so let's put them on a sleigh! They can all shout
out "This is how we pull our sleigh!"
When Is It Christmas?
When is it Christmas, I've waited so long?
When will the baby Jesus be born?
Why is there tinsel? Why for so long?
Please tell me someone when Jesus is born.
When will the shepherds set out at night?
When will they follow the star shining bright?
Why don't we see them? Where are they now?
Please someone tell me when Jesus is born.
How do the angels sing out on high?
How do the wise men journey so far?
Please can I see them? Where are they now?
Please tell me someone when Jesus is born.
Why was the stable always forlorn?
Who made the manger where he was born?
Who told the angels, high in the sky?
How did they know, when Jesus was born?
When is it Christmas, I've waited so long?
When will the baby Jesus be born?
Why is there tinsel? Why for so long?
Please tell me someone when Jesus is born.
23rd June 2004. I couldn't believe this one came to me
so quickly! I'd JUST completed the Panda song. I
started thinking "When Is It Christmas, I've waited so
long?" I sang it on the way back from listening to
Colin Steele playing at Henry's jazz cellar bar; felt
in such a good mood. I just about had it all by the
time we got home. However there was much getting up in
the middle of the night to polish it off; worth it in
the end. By the way try getting "swaddling clothes"
into a song! Not a good idea! "Forlorn" of course is
about the only word to rhyme with born! So that DOES
go in!
I Can't Find The Fairy for the Top of The Tree
I'm getting ready for Christmas day,
I've done my shopping and I've done my chores,
I've baked the pudding and I've baked mince pies……..
But I can't find the fairy for the top of the tree.
I'm getting ready for Christmas day,
The cards are sent off and the paper chain's made,
The mistletoe is ready and the holly's all up……
But we can't find the fairy for the top of the tree.
I'm getting ready for Christmas day,
The turkey's all stuffed and the toffee's all made,
Granny's room is ready and we've iced the cake………
But we can't find the fairy for the top of the tree.
We're now having our Christmas day,
Look at all the presents strewn across the floor.
Granny's sipping sherry and the table's all set…….
But we can't find the fairy for the top of the tree.
We've nearly finished our Christmas day,
We're stuffed with turkey and the hot mince pies.
Granny's still snoring…… and we don't mind…….
That we never found the fairy for the top of the tree.
November 2002. I like to think this brings in all the
final preparations for Christmas, as the tree is
decorated. Our decorations were always rather
moth-eaten as they were kept in the loft. During the
fifties it wasn't possible to go and buy a fairy for
the top of the tree. Decorations were very expensive
and so we made our own including a paper chain.
Snow Who Made You So?
Snow, which sinks so slow,
Where are you from?
Who made you so?
What made you light?
What made you white?
Snow who made you so?
The wonderment you give
When falling overnight.
The wonderment we feel
When seeing the earth so white.
The magic that you paint
For us to see each day.
The magic that you make
For children all to play.
Snow, which sinks so slow,
Where are you from?
Who made you so?
What made you light?
What made you white?
Snow, who made you so?
The way you dust the hills
To change the view we know.
And cover up the earth
That lies so warm below.
The beauty that you show
Surrounding us with love,
The beauty that we feel
As if from Heaven above.
Snow, which sinks so slow,
Where are you from?
Who made you so?
What made you light>
What made you white?
Snow, who made you so?
I don't care what anyone else says, but I think I it
is PURE MAGIC when big fluffly snow flakes fall down
from the sky and make everything WHITE. I reckon Elgar
thought so too. He wrote a cracking song called "The
snow" It's a four part song, strings as well. Why
don't we ever hear it?
What A Naughty Brown Mouse!
Oh I think there's mouse in Santa's sack.
Oh! dear me!
Can you hear there's a mouse in Santa's sack?
Oh! dear me.
Does Santa know there's a mouse in his sack?
Let's find out!
Did you know there's a mouse in Santa's sack?
Yes, a little brown mouse in Santa's sack.
And the mouse is playing in Santa's sack.
What a naughty brown mouse!
A field mouse ………No! No! No!
A dormouse?……… No! No! No!
Santa's going to bring inside my house
A naughty little house mouse?
I think there's a hole in Santa's sack,
Does he know there's a hole inside his sack?
Should we tell him there's a hole inside his sack?
What a naughty brown mouse!
Is he nibbling?………… No! No! No!
Is he scratching?….…… No! No! No!
Santa's going to bring inside my house
That naughty little, brown, mouse!
For if Mummy sees a mouse she'll die of fright.
For a mouse in a house, oh! what a sight!
And little brown mice, they play at night.
What a naughty brown mouse!
Shall we keep him?… Er…. not quite sure?
If we find him….Er…. not quite sure?
For Mummy won't like inside our house
A naughty little brown mouse.
Will the little brown mouse slip in my bed?
Or nip inside my little red stocking instead?
Will it eat up all of Santa's food?
We shall have to wait and see!
2004 June 26th 5.30 am. The idea came very easily as
we really DID have a mouse in our kitchen. The view of
it running out of John's computer room was very useful
when I had to draw one for the cover! I recorded the
song BEFORE I had made up the STORY, little realising
how difficult it was going to be to find a valid
reason as to how (in the story) the mouse GETS INTO
Santa's sack. The chimney idea was good but why and
how does it get there? The nut was the answer! But at
the end of the story, I had to get the mouse back into
his hole. How? A key part was Santa laying down his
sack as he ate the biscuit, which we learned in the
first line, was laid out for him on a plate on the
kitchen table.
Santa, Please Stay Awhile
Santa, do you feel a little cold tonight?
Chilly winds do blow.
Rudolph, are you hungry as you pull your sleigh
Right across the snow.
Santa, please stay awhile,
Then how we'll know,
Sitting beside our fire
Was where you got your nice warm toes
I'd like to see you coming if I wake tonight
Pulling on your sleigh.
All the stars are lighting up your shiny nose
As they guide you on your way.
I'll hear your sleigh bells ring
Right through the night,
You'll hear this song I sing,
As you slide across the snow tonight.
Santa, if you stop a while and rest tonight
My door's ajar.
I could give you honey and some toast and tea,
Right beside the fire.
Santa, please stay awhile,
Then how we'll know,
Sitting beside our fire
Was where you got your nice warm toes
Even if I sleep all night, and you're both gone
Far, far away.
I know you'll come another time, before too long,
I can hear you say,
"I'd like to stay awhile,
Look now you know,
Resting beside your fire
Was how I got my nice warm toes"
On April 1st 2003, I was driving down from the
Highlands of Scotland having been teaching Botanical
painting. It was a beautiful evening and I was so
inspired going over Dava Moor that I just thought I'd
get going on another Christmas song. It was
pretty much completed by the time I got back to
Edinburgh. Huge problem is there is not too much that
rhymes with "nose". So he had to be warming up his
toes.
Shining Down Our Love On Everyone Tonight
If you wake you'll see the stars that shine so bright,
Right across the world and telling you tonight:
We can see you from above and fast asleep,
Tucked up in your bed with all your thoughts to keep.
Can you feel the love we send and see it flow
Right inside your heart and even feel it grow?
May we come into your mind and share with you
All the Christmas secrets that we're keeping too.
All the Christmas bells that ring for you to hear,
All the crystal icicles that shine so clear.
May we keep you safe and sound and warm at night,
Keeping all your worries far away at night.
All the fears and wrongs of life are cast aside,
Flooding through your window if it's open wide.
That's why we remind you why we are so bright,
Shining down our love on everyone tonight.
My bedroom as a child had a skylight and I can
remember vividly watching the patterns of the clouds
as they settled at night like islands in the sky. In
those days you could clearly SEE stars. We had a
telescope and it was a great treat to go out and look
at them. I wrote the song as I cycled down to Gullane
in East Lothian. It takes about an hour. I remember
thinking how patient John was; never complaining as I
kept on stopping to jot down notes. It is such a good
feeling when a song comes together. Tom Finlay thinks
this is one of my best. |
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