Who doesn't love Christmas?
My Christmas memories go back quite a few years now. I remember the location of the Christmas tree in the little farmhouse near Fairbank, Iowa, where my parents farmed until I was about four. I remember sitting on the polished oak floors of the house my parents owned in Cedar Falls for a few years, then of course the years in Allamakee County, with deep snow and the black water of Bear Creek flowing past just outside.
On my own, we had many Christmases, in Iowa and later in Colorado. It was great fun when our kids were at home; Christmas is a great time to be a parent, to watch the joy and excitement on the little ones' faces. Now it's our grandchildren who glow with excitement, although due to scheduling and travel issues, we have our family Christmas on Thanksgiving weekend. These days, on Christmas day, it's my wife and me, observing the day by ourselves, looking out on the lovely Alaskan winter woods.
That suits us, right down to the ground.
We also love our Christmas music. One of my very favorite performers, not just of Christmas music but in general, is the lovely and talented Mary Fahl, formerly the lead singer for the '90s indy band October Project, now a solo artist. My wife and I have seen Mary live twice, and on both occasions were able to chat with her after the show. She's a lovely person, and maybe the best female vocalist alive today. So when I learned she had released a Christmas album, "Winter Songs and Carols," I had to give it a listen - and I realized I had to share it with our readers. Here are five great examples.
Christmas Time is Here. This is a lovely old tune that many of us remember from the Charlie Brown Christmas specials, for which this was something of an anthem. And aren't old memories a great part of this holiday? Mary accompanies herself with an acoustic guitar in this piece, and her deep, rich voice is perfectly suited.
Winter Lady. Mary covers this 1967 Leonard Cohen song amazingly well; there are many layers to this song, and while it seems on the surface to be a tale of a brief and meaningless encounter, it's much more than that. It's a tale of winter, the cold, the loneliness some people feel around the holidays, and how we can move beyond transient encounters to find something more lasting.
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Wexford Carol. Also known as the Enniscorthy Carol, this song is an old Irish tune describing the Nativity. It's an old song, perhaps over 500 years old, and if you've followed Mary's career (listen to her song "Annie, Roll Down Your Window") you'll know that she has deep emotional connections to the Emerald Isle. This cover of that old song is done with a traditional sound, and again, Mary's wonderful voice sets it off perfectly.
See Related: Why Would Santa Choose Reindeer? Because They Are Perfect for Pulling Sleighs.
O Holy Night/Silent Night. These songs don't really need any description. For many years one of my favorite versions of "Silent Night" was the cover done by Stevie Nicks, but honestly, Mary Fahl just does this better, perhaps, than it has ever been done. And Mary does "Silent Night" mostly a capella, and it's beautiful.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. This seems like the perfect song to close this out. It's a shining song, full of hope and optimism. We can all use a little more hope and optimism, and when, if not at Christmas, can we feel a little more hopeful about the world? And it seems to be working; 2025 looks to be a rather better year than 2024. We can hope - and that's what it's all about, isn't it?
To all of you RedState readers: Have a wonderful Christmas. You all have my best wishes for a happy day and in turn a healthy, happy, and prosperous new year. All of us here at RedState couldn't do what we do without all of you, and we appreciate you readers more than words can express. Merry Christmas - and, in this post, Mary Christmas - to you all.
