Sufjan Stevens – Hark! Songs for Christmas
On Sunday I was graciously handed a copy of Sufjan Stevens’ Songs for Christmas – Vol. I, II & III. Josiah posted the tracks on his blog last year. You can also download them elsewhere on the internet. You will not find the album in stores. Stevens apparently produced the tracks for his friends and fans.
The album is mostly Sufjan style covers of classic Christmas carols and hymns. However, there are a few originals that are real gems. Maybe someday an album full of them will be released?
Vol. I Hark! Songs for Christmas
01 Silent Night
02 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
03 We’re Goin’ to the Country!
04 Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming
05 It’s Christmas! Let’s Be Glad
06 Holy, Holy, etc.
07 Amazing Grace
Vol. II Hark! Songs for Christmas
08 Angels We Have Heard On High
09 Put the Lights on the Tree
10 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
11 I Saw Three Ships
12 Only at Christmas Time
13 Once in David’s Royal City
14 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!
15 What Child is This Anyway?
16 Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Vol. III Ding! Dong! Songs for Christmas
17 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
18 Come On! Let’s Boogie to the Elf Dance!
19 We Three Kings of Orient Are
20 O Holy Night
21 That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
22 All the King’s Horns
23 Ding! Dong!
24 The Friendly Beasts
My personal favorite from the album is That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! Not your typical Christmas song, it stirs up distant memories from my childhood while also shining light on my present surroundings. Our secular culture says that Christmas is about happiness and good cheer, when the reality for many is sadness and gloom. The track traces one child’s not so perfect Christmas. At the same time Sufjan points to the hope of Christmas. What happened on that silent and holy night gives us both strength and hope.
I listened to the song about ten or twelve times and transcribed the lyrics. The only line I am unsure about is the last word on the tenth line. It is hard to make out due to Sufjan’s falsetto.
That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
By Sufjan Stevens
Going outside
Shoveling snow in the driveway
Driveway
Taking our shoes
Riding a sled down the hill side
Hill side
Can you say what you want
Can you say what you want to be
Can you be what you want
Can you be what you are
La la lala lalala
Our father yells
Throwing the gifts in the wood stove
Wood stove
My sister runs away
Taking her books to the school yard
School yard
In time the snow will rise
In time the snow will rise
In time the Lord will rise
In time the Lord will rise
Silent night
Holy night
La la lala lalala
Silent night
Nothing feels right
La la lala lalala
Sounds interesting. I have not liked any of the Sufjan stuff I have heard so far but Christmas songs?!? Could be a good twist on them.
You might like it. I’ll admit that his style is so different that I had to listen to it a few times for it to grow on me. However, Illinois (which is probably what you heard) is also different material from his other stuff. With the Christmas album…if you like folky, accoustic, banjo-ee music then it ought to appeal to you.
thanks for the lyrics. that song’s kind of been my anthem the past few weeks. it’s nice to see there are others that appreciate its message just as much.
[...] Christmas comes a little early this year for fans of Sufjan Stevens. Asthmatic Kitty has announced a five volume set of Christmas songs that includes previously unreleased tracks and several new recordings. [...]
Ah, thanks for the lyrics.
Sufjan is so amazing…
[...] Sufjan Stevens’ holiday song, That Was the Worst Christmas Ever, is the free song of the week on iTunes. Christmas or not, it happens to be one of my favorite Sufjan songs. [...]
This is one of my favorite songs by Sufjan Stevens. It’s so incredible and is constantly playing in my house.