*sobs* ah... so sad. I belive that people write and sing sad Christmas songs for two reasons: 1. They explain. They enlighten. They teach. They reveal. They convey meaning. They cause emotions. Sad ones, yes, but aren't those the ones that you remember the most? The ones that stick? That you want to listen to again, depsite their sadness? 2. It's a sad, sad fact, but these aren't just some sad fairytale. True, they might not have actually happened, but people go through things like this every day. Winter can kill someone, even when it's not the season outside. The winter in one's heart, it's cold fingers grasping them tightly. Children alone, forgotten, abandoned. Teens abused, neglected, twisted. Adults abused, misused, suffocated. It's a part of the world we wish to turn a blind eye to. All the hurt... all the pain... These songs keep us from neglecting those in need. The remind us that there is someone out there that needs a hand this Christmas, and try to get us to be the one that reaches out. To help a soul in need. Maybe we don't need to lay our life down, maybe all they need is a smile, but I believe that sad Chrismtas songs are God's way of touching other's hearts, compelling them to offer a hand. In the Cat Carol, the cat gave the mouse a place to stay warm. In turn, though, the cat lost it's life. But it's spirit lays on, and it paved the path for other's to follow. Say that wasn't a cat? Say it was a teen, and the mouse was a child. Say that the teen had been walking, a runaway from an abusive, neglective home, and the child was an orphan, neglected, alone. By chance the two are brought together. They huddle in the snow, hoping that morning will bring light into their darkend world. Santa's a sympathetic adult, who walks over to the homless duo, offering their house on Christmas Eve. The teen is gone, having layed down their life for the child they wanted to protect from the cold. You see. It could happen. Maybe not a cat and a mouse. But two helpless children, two helpless people, two helpless souls left in the cold, lost in the winter. I made myself cry writing that. >.Anyway, I didn't mean anything by that. It's my opinion, and it's not there to hurt feelings or make other's look bad. It's there to say what I feel needs to be said. Another song I love, that's sad, is of course Christmas Shoes. Also, Concrete Angel has to be one of the saddest songs that I've heard in a while. It's not Christmas related, but I can't help thinking of it every time I'm touched by a song.

I love all Christmas music the classics and the modern songs One I love o watch is by the Drifters On the tube I think you have to click on the screen a vouple of times Here is a link that might be useful: Santa and Reindeer Sing White Christmas Animation Song -

Many, many, many! One that I love that I don't hear very often is the Candlelight Carol (by John Rutter). It is beautiful. We used to sing it in choir. Verse 1: How do you capture the wind on the water? How do you count all the stars in the sky? How can you measure the love of a mother, or how can you write down a baby's first cry? REFRAIN: Candlelight, angel light, firelight and starglow shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn. Gloria, Gloria in excelsis deo! Angels are singing; the Christ Child is born. Verse 2. Shepherds and wisemen will kneel and adore him, Seraphim round him their vigil will keep; Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Savior, but Mary will hold him and sing him to sleep. (REFRAIN) Verse 3. Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger: Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay. Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation: A child with his mother that first Christmas Day. (REFRAIN) I also love Mary Did You Know. And all the traditional songs like Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Harold Angels Sing, Joy to the World... all the songs you sing in Church. Plus a lot of the fun ones, Up on the Rooftop, All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth, I saw Mama kissing Santa Claus, and so on and so on. I love Christmas music, particularly the traditional versions.

That was really fun. What a great arrangement. I have to admit when they first started on the 12 days of Christmas, I cringed because I thought it was going to be a traditional rendition. Great group!