Winter’s wonders

NICK EICHER, HOST: Today is Tuesday, December 24th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Nick Eicher.

MARY REICHARD HOST: And I’m Mary Reichard. Up next, our occasional series: The Great American Songbook with Bob Case.

BOB CASE: The Psalmist tells us that Yahweh through his words controls the natural phenomenon surrounding us. In Psalm 147 we see that Yahweh becomes the direct agent of what happens in nature. He makes the snow cover the ground in the way a woolen fleece covers a sheep. He scatters frost like a man throwing the ashes out of the fireplace. He throws hail like someone scattering breadcrumbs. And in Isaiah 55, the prophet says that rain and snow come down from heaven to bring life to earth giving seed to the producer and food to the consumer.

God designed the cold days of Christmas and winter to be a blessing to humanity. The Hebrew word translated “winter” means “to inundate” or “overflow.” It is all part of the seasonal providential care of God.

With that in mind let’s take a look at a couple of familiar American Songbook Christmas songs about the season’s weather.

SONG: WINTER WONDERLAND BY GUY LOMBARDO

“Winter Wonderland” is a Tin Pan Alley song written in the midst of the Great Depression in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard Smith. It is often regarded as the first American Songbook Christmas song. Its lyrics are about a couple's romance during the winter season. A later version of the song transformed it from a romantic winter interlude in front of a cozy fire to a seasonal song about playing in the snow. We have lots of snow and a snowman, a Parson Brown, and a circus clown.

SONG: WINTER WONDERLAND BY GUY LOMBARDO VOCAL

Guy Lombardo’s version would go on to be one of the biggest hits of 1934.

Johnny Mercer’s recording placed number 4 on the Billboard chart in 1946.

SONG: WINTER WONDERLAND BY JOHNNY MERCER & THE PIED PIPERS

The same Christmas season a version by Perry Como hit Billboard’s top ten.

SONG: WINTER WONDERLAND BY PERRY COMO

In November 2007, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) listed “Winter Wonderland” as the most-played member-written holiday song of the previous five years.

SONG: MAY THE GOOD LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU BY MEREDITH WILSON

In 1950, composer and Juilliard musician Meredith Willson wrote “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You.” Frankie Laine recorded it and it became the most requested song by American GIs during the Korean War.

SONG: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

Then in 1951, Willson wrote his seasonal favorite: “It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” It was made a top twenty hit in September by Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters.

SONG: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

In October Bing Crosby also recorded a hit version.

SONG: IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS BY BING CROSBY

In 1986, Johnny Mathis recorded the song—included in the 1992 movie, Home Alone 2—making the song a hit once again.

In July 1945 during a heatwave in Hollywood California, Sammy Cahn suggested to his songwriting partner Jule Styne that they go to the beach to cool off.

But Styne was a workaholic and suggested they write a cool song instead. That song turned out to be “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” It was first recorded that fall by Vaughn Monroe, and went on to become the most popular Christmas song of the year and a worldwide perennial hit after.

SONG: LET IT SNOW BY VAUGHN MONROE

Despite the lyrics making no mention of any holiday, the song has come to be regarded as a Christmas song due to its winter theme. Chaste and charm characterize the brief four stanzas. Who wouldn’t want to be stranded in a cozy environment as you pop corn together, share a goodnight kiss, and part for the night?

The wonderful Christmas season is also a wonderful music season. Simple songs of joy, happiness, innocence and, yes, holiness will be our musical fare during Advent. Even our post-Christian culture can’t help itself in musically celebrating the glories of God’s winter creation.

I’m Robert Case.

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