Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Liberian Christmas Carols



"Green, Green Christmas" was written by our beloved, Aunt Clara Letitia Blaine-Wilson. She was a well-known storyteller on Radio Station ELWA, and we all loved to hear her Spider stories, prefaced by "Once upon a time..." Her audience then had to chorus "TIME" before she would continue. She was so well-regarded in Liberia, that she was given a state funeral upon her death in 1979.


Aunt Clara was returning from a wintery trip to the US, and on the plane back home, penned her longing for home in this classic song. Those of us who were privileged to know her can vividly remember her sitting in front of us in her white dress, singing this, complete with motions. It wasn't Christmas until "Green Christmas" was sung, and it still isn't!  Her story about writing it http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/31v56i25x1/how_aunt_clara_wrote_green_green_christmas_06_elwa_jubilee_audio_archives_volume_2.wma  and part of the song  with Arn Lueders on the guitar http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/n4yql0k6wr/green_green_christmas_05_elwa_jubilee_audio_archives_volume_2.wma has been saved on the ELWA Archives CD's, disc 2.


GREEN, GREEN CHRISTMAS BY AUNT CLARA BLAINE WILSON


Some folks like a cold, cold Christmas
With a lot of ice and snow.
So they put on their coats and sweaters
And away, away they go.

Chorus:
But I don't like it cold (oh no)!
Don't like to walk on ice and snow.
I like a green, green Christmas
With fresh green everywhere!
Green grass, green bushes--
Flowers blooming here and there.
Green trees, green palms
A-waving in the air! (bum, bum, bum)
I like a green, green Christmas
With fresh green everywhere.
Fresh green a-waving
To greet the infant King.

Verse 2
Bright angels told the story
While the green palms waved and waved:
Christ was born in Bethlehem's stable
And on fresh green hay was laid.

Chorus


Wise men came from the east
For to worship at his feet;
Presented gifts of gold, myrrh, frankincense
And anointed Him King of Kings.
Chorus


John Schindler, of John Schindler Ministries, has recorded the song on a CD of the same name. You can listen to a bit of it at or order it at
http://www.johnschindler.com/ .



I'm not sure who adapted the "12 Days of Christmas" for Liberia, but here it is!


TWELVE DAYS OF KRISSIMAH


On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A rice bird in a palm tree!

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
3 Vai hats,
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
4 pawpaw pies,
3 Vai hats,
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
5 gold v-rings,
4 pawpaw pies,
3 Vai hats,
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
6 bowls of fufu,
5 gold v-rings,
4 pawpaw pies,
3 Vai hats,
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

On the seventh day of Christmas,
7 jars of palm oil,
6 bowls of fufu,
5 gold v-rings,
4 pawpaw pies,
3 Vai hats,
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
8 money buses,
7 jars of palm oil,
6 bowls of fufu,
5 gold v-rings,
4 pawpaw pies,
3 Vai hats,
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
9 gourds a shaking,
8 money buses,
7 jars of palm oil,
6 bowls of fufu,
5 gold v-rings,
4 pawpaw pies,
3 Vai hats,
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
10 lovely lapas,
9 gourds a shaking,
8 money buses,
7 jars of palm oil,
6 bowls of fufu,
5 gold v-rings,
4 pawpaw pies,
3 Vai hats,
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
11 drummers drumming,
10 lovely lapas,
9 gourds a shaking,
8 money buses,
7 jars of palm oil,
6 bowls of fufu,
5 gold v-rings,
4 pawpaw pies,
3 Vai hats,
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
12 country dancers,
11 drummers drumming,
10 lovely lapas,
9 gourds a shaking,
8 money buses,
7 jars of palm oil,
6 bowls of fufu,
5 gold v-rings,
4 pawpaw pies,
3 Vai hats,
2 palaver Huts,
And a rice bird in a palm tree!

3 comments:

  1. My mother wrote the Liberian 12-days back in 65.
    http://www.hep.wisc.edu/~jnb/liberia_12.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. My mother (Pat Bellinger) wrote the Liberian 12-days back in 65.
    http://www.hep.wisc.edu/~jnb/liberia_12.html

    James

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the green Christmas song. I used to listen to it from Cote D'Ivoire on ELWA. I made a cassette recording of it from the radio, which I cherish.

    ReplyDelete