Obscure Musical Lyric for the week of Dec.22/08

Wow Christmas week is finally here. I realized that the songs I chose for the Christmas obscure lyric were sad either because of their content or because the writers of all of them have passed from this world to the next already. Some have passed before their time, or at least in our opinion. We do not hold the keys to door that opens to invite us into the next stage of eternity, we answer the door when it is knocked on and the next chapter of the journey starts.

Death is difficult. I'm writing this on Sunday morning. Today is the shortest day, the longest night and also the Winter Solstice. There are services held tonight everywhere for people who have difficulty during the Joy of the Christmas season because they are grieving. Over the past few years I have lost family members, friends and colleagues. This time can be very difficult for me. Both my parents passed away at Christmas time, in different years. My beloved lost an uncle in Holland last week.

This weeks song is a Christmas favourite. I have sung it every Christmas that I can remember. I have had the privilege of singing it to a different tune as a solo. It was a combination from various antiphons, not originally written in English and the writer is apparently unknown. It was translated to English in 1851. I have chosen the particular verse because it speaks of the Advent of one who will banish gloom and death. In this season of Joy while many of us still struggle with significant losses, it is warming to know that someone cares and loves us at this Christmas.

O come thou dayspring come and cheer

our spirits by thine advent here

disperse the gloomy clouds of night

and deaths dark shadows put to flight

I would like to know the following:

The name of the song/poem:

The original language it was written in:

The meaning of the name in the title:

May your Christmas be Merry and Bright. May this journey into some of the obscure songs of Advent help you as you prepare for the time set aside with family and friends. May that time be filled with Joy. If you attend services, may the glow of the candles, the hearing of the Promise through reading and the participation in the singing of favourite carols bring you Peace.

From my house to yours we "Wish you a Merry Christmas".

Once again in the words of tiny Tim,

"Merry Christmas one and all"