Toms View of the World

Now, I’m not “anti” Christmas (so please, no comments saying “Bah Humbug”) - but is it too much to ask that people going door-to-door singing carols spend a little time learning the words, practising together and generally looking interested… at least, look in the general direction of the person you’re singing to, and have some clue how the song actually goes.

Now, a small group, singing carols well, in tune, who know the words is a very pleasant thing to listen to - however the show so far here has been the exact opposite…

The last one started well, until he got stuck halfway through “we wish you a merry christmas” and I had to prompt him as to the next line… He then decided to try his luck on something easier, and managed to get “Jingle Bells” wrong too - and he wasn’t even trying the verses…

Please, for a country with a tradition of high quality male voice singing, the carol singers round here are just letting the side down… so please, please, remember these points:

* Marks are definitely given for having practised
* “Jingle Bells” is not a carol (in fact, it’s not even a Christmas song)
* nor is “We wish you a Merry Christmas”

and just to be clear, it’s…

Dashing through the snow,
In a one horse open sleigh,
o’er the fields we go,
laughing all the way (ho, ho, ho)
Bells on bobtail ring
making spirits bright
Oh what fun to laugh and sing
a sleighing song tonight,

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh - Hey
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh - Hey

I think I might print up some song-sheets…