It’s hard to believe it’s almost Christmas again, isn’t it? It doesn’t seem like that long ago since we were wrapping gifts and singing Christmas songs last year. 2009’s gone by so quickly. Or maybe I’m just getting older.
I enjoy Christmas but for different reasons than I used to. I’m not religious anymore but I still enjoy the spirit of the season and the message of peace and good will. It’s the little things about Christmas I enjoy most; seeing the lights and decorations in the city, spending time with family and friends. That’s what Christmas is about to me.
To help get into the Christmas spirit this year I thought I’d post a fun Christmas song, like I did last year. This is my take on Jingle Bells, one of my favourite Christmas songs. I rewrote it to reflect a typical hot Aussie Christmas. It turned out quite well in the end.
In researching it I actually learnt a lot about the song. Apparently Jingle Bells was actually written in 1857 for Thanksgiving, not Christmas. Which makes sense when you think about it as modern Christmas celebrations didn’t start until later. Also there are actually four verses to Jingle Bells, which I didn’t know; you rarely hear the last two.
In any case, I hope you enjoy it. And have a wonderful festive season. 😉
Aussie Jingle Bells
Dashing through the house
In an old shirt and one shoe
Running late again
And you need the loo
Front door starts to ring
As the guests arrive
Bringing lots of gifts and pressies
Up the front drive
Oh jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Your family’s gathered round you
On a warm Christmas day (hey!)
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Santa says g’day
Oh what fun it is to spend
Christmas the Aussie way
Now the pressies are unwrapped
We’re sitting by the tree
Lights are all turned on
Looks pretty as can be
We talk about old friends
And have a glass of wine
While the kids play with their toys
Out in the sunshine
Oh jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Your family’s gathered round you
On a warm Christmas day (hey!)
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Santa says g’day
Oh what fun it is to spend
Christmas the Aussie way
Soon it’s two o’clock
We’re by the barbeque
Eating snags and prawns
And drinking beer too
Grandma’s made the cake
It’s a little dry
We try to eat it with one hand
While we’re busy swatting flies
Oh jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Your family’s gathered round you
On a warm Christmas day (hey!)
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Santa says g’day
Oh what fun it is to spend
Christmas the Aussie way
The light is getting dim
It’s almost time to go
We take a family snap
Under the mistletoe
The kids are fast asleep
We’re singing Christmas songs
Don’t you wish Christmas day
Could last all summer long!
Oh jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Your family’s gathered round you
On a warm Christmas day (hey!)
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Santa says g’day
Oh what fun it is to spend
Christmas the Aussie way
Oh what fun it is to spend
Christmas the Aussie way!
I finally got here to read this! It’s brilliant. This is becoming an annual tradition, isn’t it?
If the holiday is really like the third stanza, I would be a little frightened to celebrate there! 😉
It’s not exactly snowing, here, either, in fact we’ve had quite balmy days recently. Still, it gets decently cold at night so we know it’s wintertime.
“Santa says g’day” -hehehe!
Marcus and I had a right giggle at this! Lots of fun! We have over a foot of snow here in VA, USA. Definitely a white Christmas here! Marcus had said he missed the white Christmases in Sweden, so we imported it just for him.
However, one of these years we’d like to have an Aussie Christmas!
Muse – I’m glad you liked it! I guess it is becoming something of a tradition; I’ll have to do one next year as well! Parodies are actually a great way to learn about songwriting as well, which is how I started.
That third stanza is pretty much what our Christmases are like. You get used to the flies after a while! Some people still do the traditional roast but most of us have barbeques or salads and spend the day at the beach or by the pool. I read an interesting article on how our Christmas celebrations evolved the other day. You might like it too.
The snow and blizzards in the US have been unbelievable. I hope no one you know has been affected?
Hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday. All the best for 2010. 🙂
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Patricia – thanks, I’m glad it made you laugh! Jingle Bells is one of my favourite festive songs and it was a lot of fun to write. I keep singng this version now!
I’ve been following the blizzards in the US; looked like it hit you pretty hard. I hope everyone’s okay? At least Marcus will feel right at home!
Hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas. Many blessings. 🙂
Oh son …it is over too soon isn’t it? Its really in the preparation…or more the realization for me of it all. Getting the snowy wintry looking decorations up and then …finally sitting back and enjoying them The day is always an anticlimax these days…as it is I think when children are not involved. I loved this and will maybe ask you to record it on our Christmas album next year!
Glad you liked it, MQ! You really think I should record it? I think my voice would give people a headache. 🙂 I’ll see if I can do something special with it next year.
Christmas does seem to go quickly, doesn’t it? You just start to get into the spirit and then it’s all over. I think I enjoy the lead up to Christmas more now, so I guess it’s less of an anticlimax for me. But Christmas is still very different without kids around.
Hopefully when it comes around again this year we can take our time and enjoy the atmosphere. Who needs all the rest of it? It’s the small things that always make Christmas feel special to me. 😉