Christmas Bleat

Tis the Season. He asked about Christmas songs. I sent him this email:

Two for you:

First, under the “I can’t help myself, I’m a historian” category: the World War II classic “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” preferably sung by Bing Crosby. No song, of any season, evokes so many emotions. The heartwrenching thought of all those boys who would never be home for another Christmas; the pure joy that must have been Christmas 1945 or 1946 when, yes, finally and without irony, I will be home for Christmas.

Second, a personal favorite: “Little Drummer Boy,” again sung by Bing. There is just something about that song, especially that version, that gets the heart pumping. No other song sets the nativity scene so well. No other song puts the power of that night into such raw, simple, and inspiring terms: “Then, He smiled at me… Ba rum Bum Bum Bum.” Joy.