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It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Words: Edmund H. Sears, 1810-1876
Music: Richard Storrs Willis, 1819-1900
Tune: Carol, Meter: CMD
Arranged and performed by Allison Crowe
It came upon a midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, and good will toward men,
from heaven's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing
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2. |
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River
Words & Music by Joni Mitchell
As performed by Allison Crowe
It’s comin' on Christmas
They’re cuttin' down trees
They’re puttin' up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don’t snow here
It stays pretty green
I’m gonna make a lot of money
Then I’m going to quit this crazy scene
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
'wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry
Well, he tried hard to help me
he put me at ease
Lord, he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
Well, I’m so hard to handle
I’m selfish and I’m sad
Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
'wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby say goodbye
Well, it’s comin' on Christmas
They’re cuttin' down trees
They’re puttin' up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
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3. |
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Hallelujah
Words & Music by Leonard Cohen
As performed & Transcribed by Allison Crowe
I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well, it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Well, your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Well, baby, I've been here before.
I've seen this room, and I've walked this floor.
I used to live alone before I knew you.
But I've seen your flag on the marble arch,
And love is not a victory march,
It's a cold and it is a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Well, there was a time when you'd let me know
What's really going on below,
But now you never show that to me, do you?
But remember when I moved in you,
And the Holy Ghost was moving too,
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Well, maybe there is a God above,
But all that I've ever learned from love
Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you.
Well, it's not a cry that you hear at night,
It's not somebody who has seen the light
It's a cold and it is a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
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4. |
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Silent Night
Words: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848; trans. by John F. Young, 1820-1885 (sts 1,
2, 3) and anon. (st 4)
Music: Franz Gruber, 1787-1863
Tune: STILLE NACHT, Meter: Irr.
Arranged and performed by Allison Crowe
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 Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light;
Radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth
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5. |
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In the Bleak Midwinter
Words: Christina G. Rossetti, 1830-1894
Music: Gustav Holst, 1874-1934
Tune: CRANHAM, Meter: Irr.
Arranged and performed by Allison Crowe
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Heaven cannot hold Him, nor the earth sustain;
Heaven and Earth shall welcome Him when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
for the Lord Incarnate, Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels sang their praises there,
cherubim and seraphim gathered in the air;
but his Mother Mary, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the Beloved only with a kiss.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise One, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give Him: give my heart
yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
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6. |
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What Child Is This (Greensleeves)
Words: William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898), The Manger Throne, 1865
Music: Greensleeves, 16th Century English melody
Arranged and performed by Allison Crowe
What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and 'whom angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation bring,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him
Raise, raise a song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary
What Child is this?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary
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7. |
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Let It Be
Words & Music by John Lennon/Paul McCartney
As performed by Allison Crowe
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
And when the broken-hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be
Though they may be parted
There is still a chance that they will see
There will be no sorrow, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
Though it may be cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me,
Shine on 'til tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Oh, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom
Let it be
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8. |
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The First Noel
Words: Trad. English carol
Music: Trad. English carol; harm from Christmas Carols New and Old
Tune: ---, Meter: Irr. with Refrain
Arranged and performed by Allison Crowe
The first Noel 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
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel
They looked 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
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel
And by the light of that same star
three Wise Men came from country far;
to seek for a King was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel
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
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel
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9. |
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In My Life
Composed by John Lennon/Paul McCartney
Performed by Allison Crowe
There are places I remember
In my life, though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places had their moment
With lovers and friends
I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
there is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I'll love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I'll love you more
In my life I'll love you more
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10. |
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O Holy Night
Words: Placide Cappeau, 1847 (Minuit, chrétiens, c'est l'heure
solennelle); translated from French to English by John S. Dwight
(1812-1893)
Music: Adolphe C. Adam (1803-1856)
Arranged and performed by Allison Crowe
O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night, O night divine!
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night divine, O night, O night divine!
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11. |
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Shine A Light
Words & Music by Mick Jagger/Keith Richards
As performed by Allison Crowe
I saw you stretched out in room 10-09
With a smile on your face
and a tear right in your eye
I could not seem to get a line on you
My sweet honey love
Berber jewelry jangling down the street
make you shut your eyes, every woman that you meet
I could not seem to get a high on you
My sweet honey love
May the good Lord shine a light on you
Make every song you sing your favourite tune
May the good Lord shine a light on you
warm like the evening sun
When you're drunk in the alley, baby
with your clothes all torn
And your late night friends leave
you in the cold grey dawn
Just seen too many flies on you
and I can't brush them off
Angels beating all their wings in time
with smiles on their faces
and a gleam right in their eye
Thought I heard one sigh for you
Come on up now, come on up, now
Come on up, now
May the good Lord shine a light on you
Make every song you sing your favourite tune
May the good Lord shine a light on you
warm like the evening sun
Yea-aheh... ohhhh...
Come on up now, come on up, now
Come on up, now
Oh, may the good Lord shine a light on you
Make every song you sing your favourite tune
May the good Lord shine a light on you
warm like the evening sun
Yea-aheh... ohhhh...
Yea-aheh...
Oh...
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12. |
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Angel
Words & Music by Sarah McLachlan
As performed by Allison Crowe
Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay
there's always some reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
need some distraction
oh beautiful release
memory seeps through my veins
that may be empty
and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
In the arms of an angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort there
So tired of the straight line
and everywhere you turn
there's vultures and thieves at your back
storm keeps on twisting
you keep on building the lie
that you make up for all that you lack
it don't make no difference
escape for one last time
it's easier to believe in this sweet madness, oh
this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees
In the arms of the angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here
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Tidings brings together traditional carols, and not-so-traditional songs, all interpreted, even redefined, through the vocal and piano artistry of Allison Crowe.
It's a much-loved collection tagged "the Yule-tide find of the year" by one music critic. "Her voice celebrates the music with a bluesy rock-gospel intensity; her controlled vibrato, silken rasp, and powerful projection rivet your attention. This is no casual background music... be prepared to be amazed," says another reviewer.
The album of is popular year-round - not just during the Christmas season when it's a natural. It's truly "music for the season and all time".
Tidings is recorded, live-off-the-floor, on Winter's eve in Canada by Engineer & Producer Larry Anschell, (Pearl Jam, Sarah McLachlan, k-os), who captures the magic at his Turtle Recording studio by the shore in White Rock, BC, Canada.
Peace on Earth ~ goodwill toward all.
released November 11, 2004