Over the years, I have become something of a Christmas music aficionado, and have planned to do a list like this for quite some time, but never actually got around it. I’ve “collected” Christmas music for years, and currently have over 1000 different songs, some composed hundreds of years ago, and some brand new. Musical talent, well – I have none, but I know what I like – perhaps you will find some undiscovered gems here that will be a blessing to you this Christmas season.
Not You Know Who…
Some qualifications for this list:
- I am here choosing the best Jesus-focused Christmas SONGS – not the best Jesus-focused Christmas BANDS. You’ll find on this list groups like Jars of Clay, a band that I enjoy musically a great deal, but find myself in large disagreement with the theology of some of their band members. There is also a band on here called “Barenaked Ladies.” Now – before you get offended, please know that they are neither ladies, nor naked. They are a lovely bunch of false-advertising Canadian lads that have produced one of the great Christmas song recordings of the last twenty years. If I had a million dollars, I might just use it to fund another Christmas album by these guys. Or perhaps just invest in some fancy ketchup.
- The songs on this list are traditional Christmas songs in that they are quite clearly related to the birth of Christ. I do actually plan to do a list of some of the better secular Christmas songs, so stay tuned for that.
- There will be some absolutely amazing Christmas songs left off of this list, and that will be my fault. If you have a favorite that I am missing, then please raise up an alarm about your song in the comments section – I might expand this list in the future!
- The list is slightly skewed towards songs that aren’t massively well known, hence some great and glorious classics might be omitted. Alas.
And now, without further ado – #s 6-10 of the TOP TEN BEST CHRISTMAS SONGS EVER:
6 – For King and Country – Baby Boy. Joel and Luke, front men of For King and Country, are actually the younger brothers of Rebecca St. James – shoutout to the 90s. This song, an original by the guys, was written in June of 2013. In an interview over at New Release Today, Luke writes, ” As we talked about it in the room we discussed how the war was won by a baby boy, and how counter-intuitive that is, and how true it is. Jesus saved us all and came to the world as a baby. It’s the first Christmas song we’ve written.” Give it a listen: (Or purchase it on Amazon Here)
Lyrics: If you told me all about your sorrows
I’d tell you about a cure
If you told me you can’t fight the battle
There’s a Baby Boy who won the war
The war was won by a Baby Boy
Alleluia, we can sing it
Alleluia, Heaven’s ringing
Alleluia!
Endless hope and relentless joy started with a Baby Boy
Oh, before that silent night
No Savior and no Jesus Christ
The world cried out so desperately
And the Baby Boy was the reply,
Yes, Heaven’s reply was a baby boy
Alleluia, we can sing it
Alleluia, Heaven’s ringing
Alleluia!
7. Pentatonix: Little Drummer Boy. This was an instant classic when it was released three years ago. Unbelievable voices and amazing vocal effects. Astounding talent. (Remember that this is a list of best Christmas songs, not bands) Amazon has a bunch of Pentatonix Christmas albums, including this, the newest one.
Lyrics:
Pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see
Pa rum pum pum pumOur finest gifts we bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the kIng
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pumSo to honor Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
When we comeLittle baby
Pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too
Pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring
Pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give our King
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pumShall I play for you
Pa rum pum pum pum
On my drumMary nodded
Pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him
Pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pumThen He smiled at me
Pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum
8. Mindy Smith: What Child is This? As far as I’m concerned, Mindy Smith is almost criminally underrated. She has a most beautiful and utterly haunting voice. Her version of “What Child Is This” is very traditional, unadorned, and borderline perfect. You can get Snowed In, her Christmas album, here.
Lyrics:
Who laid to rest
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
Come Peasant, King to own Him
The King of Kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
His mother sings her lullaby.
Joy, oh joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, The Son, Of Mary.
9. Cloverton: Do you Hear What I Hear? Growing up, this song was my absolute favorite Christmas carol. The version by Cloverton actually adds some fresh lyrics and musical additions – which I normally wouldn’t be a huge fan of, but it works well here. For my money, Lance Stafford, lead singer of Cloverton, has one of the smoothest voices in all of Christian music. You can buy the whole Cloverton Christmas Album on Amazon Here.
“Do You Hear” Partial Lyrics:
do you see what I see?
Way up in the sky little lamb;
do you see what I see?A star! A star dancing in the night
with a tail as big as a kite;
with a tail as big as a kite![Chorus:]
Do you hear the crying of the king;
the angels as they sing?
Salvation comes from in a manger.
Do you see the light that’s shown the way;
that’s shining still today?
Our king has come from in a manger.Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy:
do you hear what I hear?
Ringing through the sky shepherd boy;
do you hear what I hear?
On the Feast of Stephen
When the snow lay ’round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gath’ring winter fuel
“Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou know’st it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes’ fountain.”
“Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine-logs hither
Thou and I shall see him dine
When we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude wind’s wild lament
And the bitter weather.
“Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how
I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, good my page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shall find the winter’s rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.”
In his master’s step he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye, who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
BONUS: Cloverton’s Take on Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah is a must listen and watch:
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