Blog Caroling: This Time of Year

My dear friend fM’s favorite holiday tradition (she says) is Blog Caroling.  I suspect that her ritual of dressing up in flannel jammies with hot toddy in hand are as important as the musical production.

Last year I presented a truly local song.  But with New Hampshire-specific Christmas songs being rarer than chestnut trees, I settled, quite happily, for one I like that has little to do with my locale.I have selected a song, “This Time of the Year,” as my Blog Carol.  It was written by Clyde Otis (using an alias of Cliff Owens) and Jeff Hollis.  It was first sung in 1959 by Brook Benton.  However, I prefer the Etta James version, from her “12 Songs of Christmas,” album.

Sing along with me, or if you can’t sing, grab a kazoo.  And so, for your listening, singing and lyric pleasure, I present . . . .

Etta James–This Time of Year (When Christmas is Near)
This Time Of Year lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

LYRICS: This Time of Year, by
Little girls, little boys
Dream of worlds, lots of toys
This time of the year
When Christmas is near
Evergreens are snowy white
Sleigh bells ring through the night
This time of the year
When Christmas is near
Somewhere near a steeple
People kneel and pray
And choirs sing carols of Christmas day
Santa Claus, oh, is on his way
Loads of joy in on his sleigh
This time of the year
Yeah, when Christmas is near
Somewhere near a steeple
People, they kneel and pray
Oh, when choirs sing
Oh, they sing carols of Christmas day
Oh, and Santa Claus, oh, is on his way
Loads of joy on his sleigh, yeah
This time of the year
Oh, when Christmas is near
Oh oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, this time of the year
And oh, when Christmas is near
Oh, oh, Christmas is near

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To my readers and friends: Wishing the best of holidays, whichever or whatever you celebrate.  — Janice