Our dear fellow Geneablogger and all-around lovely lady, Footnote Maven (www.footnotemaven.com), reminded us today that it's time for her annual tradition of Blog Caroling. Blog caroling, as FM explains it, consists of choosing your favorite Christmas carol, and blogging about it, including lyrics and video.
Christmas is about tradition, so I thought I'd give this a try and join in the singing.
It just so happens that one of my very favorite Christmas carols - okay, it's more of a song than a carol, but I think FM will allow it - also carries quite a bit of tradition along with it, perhaps in a way you might not think.
For 27 years, Darlene Love has been a special guest on the Late Show with David Letterman for his last show before Christmas. Ms. Love comes with one purpose, and that is to sing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" to the delight of fans around the world. Darlene Love is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Tony award nominee, and has an exhaustive list of musical performances as a backup singer and collaborator and lead performer in her own right.
So last night, at the age of 72 years, Ms. Love took the stage over at David Letterman's show for her 27th year.
She brought the house down.
Here is last night's performance, sung as no one else on this planet could sing it.
And the lyrics are posted below, so you can listen again and sing along.
The snow's coming down
I'm watching it fall
Lots of people around
Baby please come home
The church bells in town
All singing in song
Full of happy sounds
Baby please come home
They're singing "Deck The Halls"
But it's not like Christmas at all
'Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year
Pretty lights on the tree
I'm watching them shine
You should be here with me
Baby please come home
They're singing "Deck The Halls"
But it's not like Christmas at all
'Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year
If there was a way
I'd hold back this tear
But it's Christmas day
Please
Please
Please
Please
Baby please come home
Lots of people around
Baby please come home
The church bells in town
All singing in song
Full of happy sounds
Baby please come home
They're singing "Deck The Halls"
But it's not like Christmas at all
'Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year
Pretty lights on the tree
I'm watching them shine
You should be here with me
Baby please come home
They're singing "Deck The Halls"
But it's not like Christmas at all
'Cause I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year
If there was a way
I'd hold back this tear
But it's Christmas day
Please
Please
Please
Please
Baby please come home
David Letterman (through his representative) was quoted by the Huffington Post saying, "It isn't Christmas without Darlene Love."(1)
I tend to agree.
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
(1) "Darlene Love's David Letterman Appearance Kicks Off Christmas", http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/21/darlene-love-christmas-baby-letterman_n_4485773.html. Includes additional links to Ms. Love's past performances as well.
