The idea for an impromptu carols gathering arose in a community discussion page on the Central Coast, NSW, in 2022. Someone said “we should have carols down by the water”, and I volunteered to just turn up with my guitar and play for anyone who wanted to join me. Of course it grew! We’d need words, so I said I’d put them online, where people could read them on their phones, or download and print out beforehand if they wished. Various other musicians volunteered to play, too, and we had to rehearse (albeit briefly), if only to make sure we were all playing in the same key. By the time I’d actually put the songsheet and musicians’ leadsheet together, it seemed important to preserve the behind-the-scenes work for future years and other community groups who might want to do the same thing, so here it all is. Singers can read all the words below (scroll down past the QR code), or download them in a file using the links given; musicians can download the leadsheet. (All melodies given for C instruments; many also included for Bb instruments.)
Note: Several Christmas songs have been added to the songsheet below as of 7th Dec 2023, but not yet added to the musicians’ leadsheet. They are marked “2023”. Some songs have been removed for 2024.
Feel free to bring glowsticks, lanterns, or battery-powered candles to turn on as the sun sets. Also bring insect repellent and water bottles. The whole list takes approximately 75 minutes.
It’s an entirely unofficial event, so there are no rules, but please behave sensibly, pick up any rubbish, and keep it G-rated.
Enjoy, and have a merry Christmas!
Clare
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Downloadable 2022/23 songsheet — docx file ; pdf file
Downloadable 2022/23 leadsheet for musicians – pdf file (minus 2023 songs)
Website link for promotion: dadirrilifemelodies.com/impromptu-carols/
QR code for this webpage, to share when people want to access it easily from their phone:
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Online songsheet
- Deck the Halls
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing
- Joy to the World
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town
- Australian Twelve Days of Christmas
- Once in Royal David’s City
- Away in a Manger
- Silent Night
- White Christmas (2023)
- Frosty the Snowman (2023)
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (2023)
- O Little Town of Bethlehem
- The First Nowell
- A Holly Jolly Christmas (2023)
- Jingle Bell Rock
- O Come, All Ye Faithful
- Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (2023)
- Jingle Bells (with additional verses)
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas
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Deck the Halls
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
‘Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la, la la la, la la la!
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
See the blazing yule before us, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Strike the harp and join the chorus, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la, la la la, la la la!
While I tell of Yuletide treasure, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Fast away the old year passes, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
Sing we joyous all together! Fa la la, la la la, la la la!
Heedless of the wind and weather, Fa la la la la, la la la la!
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Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born king
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born king.
Christ, by highest heaven adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold him come
Offspring of a virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the godhead see
Hail the incarnate deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel
Hark, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn king.
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Risen with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born king.
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Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Joy to the earth, the Saviour reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
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Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
“Rudolph, with your nose so bright
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Then how the reindeer loved him
And they shouted out with glee,
“Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
You’ll go down in history.”
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Santa Claus is Coming to Town
You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He’s making a list
He’s checking it twice
He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake.
Oh – you better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you’re sleeping
He knows when you’re awake
He knows if you’ve been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake.
Oh – you better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town.
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Australian Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me,
A kookaburra in a gum tree.
On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me,
Two pink galahs,
And a kookaburra in a gum tree.
On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me,
Three jabirus,
Two pink galahs,
And a kookaburra in a gum tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Four koala bears,
Three jabirus
Two pink galahs
And a kookaburra in a gum tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Five kangaroos.
Four koala bears,
Three jabirus,
Two pink galahs,
And a kookaburra in a gum tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Six brolgas dancing…
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Seven possums playing…
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eight dingoes digging…
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Nine wombats working…
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Ten lizards leaping…
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eleven numbats nagging…
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Twelve parrots prattling,
Eleven numbats nagging,
Ten lizards leaping,
Nine wombats working,
Eight dingoes digging,
Seven possums playing,
Six brolgas dancing,
Five kangaroos.
Four koala bears,
Three jabirus,
Two pink galahs,
And a kookaburra in a gum tree.
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Once in Royal David’s City
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable,
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
And our eyes at last shall see him,
Through his own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above,
And he leads his children on
To the place where he is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
Where like stars his children crowned
All in white shall wait around.
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Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes
But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes
I love you, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
Close by me forever and love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children in your tender care
And fit us for heaven to live with you there.
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Silent Night
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia,
Christ the Saviour is born.
Christ the Saviour is born.
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light.
Radiant beams thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.
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White Christmas
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white.
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Frosty the Snowman
Frosty, the snow man, was a jolly happy soul
With a corn cob pipe and a button nose
And two eyes made out of coal
Frosty, the snow man, is a fairy tale, they say
He was made of snow but the children know
How he came to life one day.
There must have been some magic in
That old silk hat they found
For when they placed it on his head
He began to dance around.
Oh, Frosty, the snow man, was alive as he could be
And the children say he could laugh and play
Just the same as you and me.
Frosty, the snow man, knew the sun was hot that day
So he said “Let’s run and we’ll have some fun
Now before I melt away.”
Down to the village, with a broomstick in his hand,
Running here and there all around the square
Sayin’ “Catch me if you can.”
He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop,
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler “Stop!”
For Frosty, the snow man, had to hurry on his way.
But he waved goodbye, sayin’ “Don’t you cry;
I’ll be back again some day.”
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Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
Next year all our troubles will be miles away
Once again, as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more
Someday soon we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
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O Little Town of Bethlehem
Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel.
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The First Nowell
The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
They lookèd up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]
This star drew nigh to the northwest;
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]
Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life has bought. [Refrain]
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Holly Jolly Christmas
Have a holly jolly Christmas
It’s the best time of the year
Now I don’t know if there’ll be snow
But have a cup of cheer.
Have a holly jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet.
Ho ho the mistletoe
Is hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me.
Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn’t hear
Oh by golly, have a holly jolly Christmas
This year.
Ho ho the mistletoe
Is hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me.
Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn’t hear
Oh by golly, have a holly jolly Christmas
This year.
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Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun.
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air.
What a bright time, it’s the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh.
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and mingle in the jingling beat
That’s the jingle bell rock.
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air.
What a bright time, it’s the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh.
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and mingle in the jingling beat
That’s the jingle bell
That’s the jingle bell
That’s the jingle bell rock.
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O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him, born the King of Angels:
Chorus:
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
God of God, light of light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten, not created: [Chorus]
See how the shepherds, summoned to his cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh with lowly fear
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps: [Chorus]
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest: [Chorus]
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Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
At the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Every couple tries to stop.
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we’ll have some pumpkin pie
And we’ll do some carolling
You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing, let’s be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancin’ merrily
In the new, old-fashioned way
You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear
Voices singing, let’s be jolly
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancin’ merrily
In the new, old-fashioned way.
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Jingle Bells
Note: Jingle Bells was originally written as a pub drinking song, and the words of the original second and third verses are a little risqué. A few years ago I wrote these alternate verses for Australian carol-singing.
Dashing through the snow
On a one horse open sleigh
O’er the fields we go,
Laughing all the way
Bells on bobtail ring,
making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Chorus:
Oh, 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.
The air is crisp and clear,
The stars are sparkling bright,
The streets are filled with cheer
In daytime and at night.
Church bells sound their song
Of love and peace to share,
The celebrations bring a throng
Of people everywhere.
The elves are making toys
For Santa’s youthful friends;
All the girls and boys
Are awaiting what he sends.
Christmas time is fun,
New wonders every day,
And whether we’re in snow or sun
It’s magic all the way.
Additional verses © Clare Pascoe, November 2017
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We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding
Oh, bring us some figgy pudding
And bring it right here
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
We won’t go until we get some
We won’t go until we get some
We won’t go until we get some
So bring it right here
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year
We all like our figgy pudding
We all like our figgy pudding
We all like our figgy pudding
With all its good cheers
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!
Dadirri Life Melodies 