++ Rita MacNeil Official Site: Discography ++

JOYFUL SOUNDS

This recording is a collection of songs which came about as a result of remembering Christmases past, along with the hope that lies ahead for our future. May we as people bring peace to each other by our words and actions - no ribbon or paper required to wrap this gift...

Click song titles for lyrics, play icons for Real Audio sound clips

1.    The Carollers
2.    Joyful Sounds
3.    Rocking The Cradle
4.    A Night To Remember
5.    Once Upon A Christmas
6.    Bright Light
7.    Good King Wenceslas
8.    The Gift Of Love
9.    Mary Mary
10. With my Family
11. When It Comes To Christmas
12. Adeste Fideles
13. Silent Night
14. Now The Bells Ring
15. This Season Will Never Grow Old
16. Blue Christmas
17. Christmas Has Meaning
18. The Holly
19. Mother Mary
20. Away In A Manger
21. Christmas At Home
22. O Holy Night

...........................................................................................................................................

The Carollers

We will sing a song to make you happy
We are carollers who make our way
Through the stormy nights we stand before you
Oh hear the joy when we sing his praises

It was long ago when we heard the story
It was said to be on a night like this
Now we’ve come to share this ancient mystery
Oh Gloria let the voices ring

Chorus

We are all your friends and neighbours
We come to see you once a year
On this night that brings together
People all around the world

There are many doors that we’ve yet to open
And may they all be as kind as you
Light a candle in the window we will sing a song for you

Repeat Chorus

There’s a blanket white on the road we travel
A distant star in the sky above
And an endless voice that will sound forever
On a winters night hear the carollers sing

Words and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1996 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

Joyful Sounds

O the children wake with a joyful smile
To the sounds of Christmas morn
And the wooden clock when it goes tick tock
Has the sound from long, long ago

Oh the peaceful night at the end of the day
And the children are fast in their sleep
And the joyful sounds can be heard in the wind
As it plays in the branch of the trees

And the silence wrapped all around the stars
With a wish unto you and to you
And the gentle folk whisper words of hope
Like a gift that is waiting for you!

And the ribbons wrapped all around the gifts
That I give unto you and to you
May this day live long in the hearts of all
Like a child that is smiling at you

Chorus

And the merry, merry ringing of the bells on high
With the sound to let the world know
That a saviour was born on this bright Christmas morn
To bring forth love and truth

In the dark starry sky there’s a lone shining star
It’s been shining for thousands of years
In the new fallen snow there are footprints that show
And they follow that star every year

O the peaceful night at the end of the day
And the children are fast in their sleep
And the sounding joy can be heard on the wind
As it moves through the night as we sleep

Repeat Chorus

Words and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1996 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

Rocking The Cradle

She’s rocking the cradle
Her father he made it
He filled it with paper
And an old rag doll

He’s pulling the wagon
His father he made it
He filled it with pine cones
And the wheels go round

The Child in the stable
He sleeps in a manger
His father he made it
From golden straw

And here are the children
Who face tomorrow
The Child in the stable
Will lead them on

She’s wearing a red dress
Her mother she made it
She laced it with ribbons
That all hang down

He’s wearing a white coat
His mother she made it
She filled it with goose down
To keep him warm

The Child in the stable
He’s wrapped in warm cloth
His mother she made it
From a woven shawl

And they are the children
Who face tomorrow
The Child in the stable
Will lead them on

And we are the people
Who watch the Children
And He will teach us
To love them all

I say three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
I say three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning

Repeat last verse

Words and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1994 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

A Night To Remember

I look out in wonder a night to remember
Oh precious tidings, that come with the morn
In sweet adoration a time to remember
Strangers all travel to bring forth their joy

Hallelujah we say again
Raise our voice, our hearts, our hands
Christ Our Saviour, Christmas Day

Hope of the ages in sweet expectation
We wait in the darkness for He shall come
Bring forth the Saviour, let us adore Him
Glad hearts are waiting, let us rejoice

Hallelujah we say again
Raise our voice, our hearts, our hands
Christ Our Saviour, Christmas Day

Words and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1994 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

Once Upon A Christmas
(Across The Miles Tonight)

The apples in December were still upon the tree
A lone bird was singing sweet by the frozen stream
Once upon a Christmas how I long to see
A hint of white, all is bright
You waiting for me

The ribbons and the presents were never very far
You always knew just what to give to touch somebody’s heart
Once upon a Christmas, how it used to be
A winter’s night, all is bright
And you waiting for me

I know it’s that time again, you must feel it too
We live in different places now, it’s Christmas without you
But if I take a moment, I close my eyes real tight
I’ll send you my best wishes, across the miles tonight

Do you watch the snowflakes fall, like you used to do
And worry when that day arrives, forget a gift or two
Once upon a Christmas when there was you and me
Making lists, wrapping gifts and sharing all our dreams

Words and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1994 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

Bright Light

There is a bright light shining tonight
Follow that bright star into the night
This ancient story, a simple birth
Night to remember, peace on earth

There is a manger so far away
Gather around Him on this day
Hear all the voices rise now and then
Night of our Saviour, teach us again

There is a story that never grows old
It tells of great hope whenever it’s told
Glory to heaven we say tonight
Bring into this age Your lasting light

Let there be singing for all tonight
Speak of praises O Holy Night

Words and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1994 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

Mary Mary

There are miles to go before you sleep
Mary the night comes stealing
You are weary and the winds they weep
Hear the distant heartbeat

Chorus:

Mary, Mary, thou are humble
Praise the star you travel under

There are three wise men and gifts they are bringing
Lay them down before Him
And the shepherd boy on a staff is leaning
Ne’er a word is spoken

Repeat Chorus

You will lay your Child in a manger lowly
Come let us adore Him
We will bow our heads lay praise before Him
All good hearts behold them

Repeat Chorus (2)

Words and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1994 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

With My Family

It’s that time of year again
Snow has fallen everywhere
It’s you and me and Christmas time
Can’t you hear the bells ring

Chorus:
All I want under my tree
Peace and love and harmony
Wrap it with a ribbon please
I’ll share it with my family

It’s that day I want to see
‘Cause it means so much to me
The greatest light within our reach
Can’t you hear the world singing

Chorus

Many now have come and gone
I’ve hung a star for every one
The message oh the same old one
Don’t you know the child’s sleeping

Chorus (Repeat Chorus)

Words and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1994 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

When It Comes To Christmas

Did you make the Christmas cards many years ago
And when you painted on the scene, how did the story go
Was it bright red and green with a hint of silver thaw
Were there happy faces behind every door

Did you always feel somehow that you had to show
Shoppers with their presents and the whitest of snow
Did they rush to and fro’ with a special season glow
That seems to be repeating in everyone you know

And when it comes to Christmas
And Christmas cards we write
The meaning is no different
Pease, hope and love

Did you show that beaten path, footprints in the snow
The little church upon the hill where everybody goes
And the star shining bright and the brightest star of all
Wherever people gather, they sing and praise tonight

And when it comes to Christmas
And Christmas cards we write
The meaning is no different
Peace, hope and love
The meaning is no different
Peace, hope and love

Words and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1994 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

Now The Bells Ring

Weary the travellers that carry the Babe
Long is the journey the wise men will make
While out through the darkness there shines a bright light
And into the morning the world will rejoice

Listen to the drummer boy, beating on the drum
Shepherds gather closer to wait for the dawn
And off in the distance the Child that is born
Is sleeping softly in the peace of the morn

Chorus:
Now the bells ring, now the bells ring
The goods news has come
The message is clear now
The world is reborn

Now hear the children singing His praise
All of the world will remember this day
While all through the ages,
This story has been told
And down through the pages the miracle unfolds

Chorus

Now hear the children, singing His praise
(Praise to the Child that is born)
All of the world will remember this day
(On this Christmas Day morn)
While all through the ages, this story has been told
And down through the pages the miracle unfolds

Chorus
Repeat Chorus

Now the bells ring, now the bells ring, (etc.)

Words and Music by Rita MacNeil
© 1988 Big Pond Publishing and Production Limited

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

This Season Will Never Grow Old

Christmas is coming, I can tell by the smiles
I remember the snowflakes that fell from the sky
And covered the village that lay sleeping below
Thank goodness this season will never grow old

I look through my window well into the night
Watching and waiting and hoping I might
See one little reindeer fly through the snow
Thank goodness the season will never grow old

Christmas is coming, may joy fill your home
And the spirit be with you wherever you go

Trees with full branches were the first ones to go
I remember the children who came to the door
And sang out the carols we all used to know
Thank goodness this season will never grow old

All round the fire, the warmth of the flame
Tip-toeing softly trying not to awake
The ones who lay waiting for good things you know
Thank goodness this season will never grow old

Christmas is coming, may joy fill your home
And the spirit be with you wherever you go

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

Christmas Has Meaning

Christmas has meaning
For those who have feelings
Of giving and sharing and love
Like old songs and good friends
Small family gatherings
Bringing us closer
To remember again

Some hearts grow softer
When snow covers rooftops
And faces of children grow bright
It's hard not to feel good
When strangers that pass you
Bring you good wishes
Again and again

Chorus:
So down fall the snowflakes
Out come the keepsakes
The Christmas tree treasures
That fill up the home
All through the season
Good folks keep meeting
And friends round the table
Wherever you go

Christmas comes early
For those in a hurry
For sleighbells and candles that glow
And all through the season
There lives such a feeling
That warms you like fire
Wherever you go

Chorus

And friends round the table
Wherever you go

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

Mother Mary

Joseph he was a carpenter
And Mary stood by his side
And all the glory of the world
Came to her one night

And Mary you've seen hard times
And all that you've been through
The night you needed shelter
They had no room for you

Joseph gave you his old coat
To stop the wind blowing through
And when you started your journey
The road was long for you

And Mary you've seen hard times
And all that you've been through
The night you needed shelter
They had no room for you

Chorus:
And Mary, O Mother Mary
I'll remember you this day
Today is your Son's birthday
Have a merry Christmas day

Refrain
Felice Navidad, oh
Felice Navidad, hey
Felice Navidad, oh
Have a merry Christmas day

Joseph waited the long night
The world is smiling on you
You've given as much as a mother
Mary will remember you

And Mary you've seen hard times
And all that you've been through
The night you needed shelter
They had no room for you

Chorus
Refrain (Repeat)

:: BACK TO TOP

.......................................................................................................................................

Christmas At Home

Memories of walking home
From the Christmas party in the
falling snow
Exchanging gifts, exchanging smiles
Hanging pine cones in the hall

Chorus:

Merry Christmas meant lots of
whispering
Special feelings to bridge the
difference
All the years we came together
For Christmas at home

And the radio played in the distance
O Night, O Holy Night

Memories of old Jack Frost
Frozen pictures upon the glass
Changing right before your eyes
With a warm breath from the happy
child

Chorus

Memories of walking home
From the Christmas party in the
falling snow
Exchanging gifts, exchanging smiles
Hanging pine cones in the hall

Chorus

And the radio played in the distance
O Night, O Holy Night

:: BACK TO TOP