While I love songs of praise to my God and remembrance of His birth, not all of my favorite holiday songs are religious.
This one is not even a Christmas song, specifically. Still, it has about it the air of wind, winter, the warmth of home, and love for those far away. It is on the afore-mentioned “Home for Christmas” album, and therefore I associate it with Christmas. The warmth of Gordon Bok’s voice, the theme of the song, and my childhood association with it make this piece very dear to my heart.
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Hearth and Fire,
By Gordon Bok
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Hearth and fire be ours tonight
And all the dark outside
Fair the night, and kind on you
Wherever you may bide.
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And I’ll be the sun upon your head,
The wind about your face.
My love upon the path you tread
And upon your wand’rings, peace.
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Wine and song be ours tonight
And all the cold outside.
Peace and warmth be yours tonight
Wherever you may bide.
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And I’ll be the sun upon your head,
The wind about your face.
My love upon the path you tread
And upon your wand’rings, peace.
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Hearth and fire be ours tonight,
And the wind in the birches, bare.
Oh, that the wind we hear tonight
Would find you well and fair.
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And I’ll be the sun upon your head,
The wind about your face.
My love upon the path you tread
And upon your wand’rings, peace.
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© 1980 Gordon Bok
You can learn more about “Home for Christmas,” and listen to most of it here: The Basement Rug
Requiescat in pace, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, December 5, 2013.
May we never forget you or what you have done.
December 6th, 2013 at 6:24 am
I’m totally with you on this! I think this is going to go in my Christmas card to my wife this year. It says so much. To bear witness to Christ something does not necessarily need religious language. The language needs to be good, beautiful and true & this is all three!
December 6th, 2013 at 8:28 am
I agree and though I don’t know your wife, I think she will be moved by sentiments like these. They are as beautiful as they are simple.
Thanks for stopping by!
December 7th, 2013 at 7:07 pm
Amazing. Thanks for sharing with us.
December 7th, 2013 at 11:48 pm
My pleasure. :) Enjoy Advent and Christmas!
December 1st, 2014 at 4:43 pm
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