Since it was recorded during the '80s, Home for Christmas sounds a bit too slick, especially for fans of her early material, but it's nevertheless a reasonably enjoyable holiday record, thanks to Dolly's irrepressible charm..
DOLLY PARTON
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Columbia FC-46796
September 1/1990
Produced by Gary Smith
Kent Wells, Carl Jackson, Michael Johnson - guitar
Jack Smith - steel
Robert Williams - dobro
Paul Uhrig - bass
Steve Turner - drums
Gary W. Smith, Michael Davis - piano/organ/keyboards
Stuart Duncan, Jimmy Mattingly - fiddle/mandolin
Alisa Jones Wall - dulcimer
Vocals and chorus:
Alyson Chance, Bob Bailey, Richard Dennison, Everett Drake, Nuana Dunlap, Vanessa Hollowell,
Amy Johnson, Bobby Jones, Cole Kiracofe, Jennifer O'Brien, Bryan Seaver, Rebecca Seaver, Austin Smith,
Brandon Smith, Howard Smith, Tiffany Smith, David Turner, Katie Turner, Harry Watkins, Derek Wells,
Dustin Wells, Angela Wright, Rev Thomison Lawrence, Luther Barnes, Jason Beddoe, Al Coleman, Melissa Coleman,
Joy Gardner, Landy Gardner, Tanya Goodman-Sykes, Vicki Pointer, Rebekah Rayborn, Mark Warren
INTRO
So many times in my life I think back on the days of my childhood
Now there were some special times
But none were ever as special as the mem'ries of Christmas in the Smokey Mountains
Why I can close my eyes right now and I can still see that little old country church
Just full of neighbors and family and friends and I still hear a little country preacher
Talkin' about the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
And I remember how I used to love all those great old Christmas songs
**********
1.
FIRST NOEL
(Traditional)
« © '56 Cherry River Music, BMI »
(The first Noel the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay
In fields where lay they're keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Noel Noel Noel Noel born is the King of Israel)
The first Noel the angels did say...
For all to see there was a bright star shining in the east beyond them far
And Judia earth it gave great light and so it continued both day and night
Noel Noel Noel Noel born is the King of Israel
Noel Noel Noel Noel born is the King of Israel
**********
2.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN' TO TOWN
(Haven Gillespie - Fred J. Coots)
« © '34 Feist Catalog, ASCAP / Gillespie Haven Music, ASCAP »
Oh you better watch out you better not cry
You better not pout I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
And he's a making a list and checking in twice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town
He sees you when you're sleeping he knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake
Oh you better watch out you better not cry
You better not pout I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
[ fiddle - guitar ]
(Santa Claus is comin' to town)
He sees you when you're sleeping...
**********
3.
I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
(Kim Gannon - Walter Kent - Buck Ram)
« © '43 Gannon & Kent Music, ASCAP / Piedmont Music, ASCAP »
I'll be home for Christmas you can count on me
Fileds have snow and mistletoe and presents under the tree
Christmas Eve will find me where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams
[ sax - steel ]
Christmas Eve will find me...
If only in my dreams
Yes I'll be home I'll be home for Christmas
**********
4.
RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER
(Johnny Marks)
« © '49 St Nicholas Music, ASCAP / Educational Graphic Press, BMI »
Hey kids now I know you all know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen
But do you recall the most famous reindeer of all
(Rudolph) that's right Rudolph
He was the one with the big red nose that everyone make fun of
Everyone there is except Santa
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it why you would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names
They'd never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games
Until one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say
Hey Rudolph with your nose so bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight
Then how the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer you'll go down in history
[ fiddle - mandolin ]
Then one foggy Christmas Eve...
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer...
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer you'll go down in history
**********
5.
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
(Traditional)
« © '56 Park Lane Music »
Go tell it on the mountain over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watch o'er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens there shown a holy light
Go tell it on the mountain...
The shepherds feared and trembled when low above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Saviour's birth
Go tell it on the mountain...
[ piano ]
Go tell it on the mountain...
Go tell it on the mountain...
**********
6.
LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
(Katherine Davis - Henri Onerati - Harry Simeone)
« © '61 Mills Music, ASCAP / Gambler Publishing, BMI »
Come they told me our pa ra pa pum pum
A newborn King to see pa ra pa pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa ra pa pum pum
To lay before the King pa ra pa pum pum
Ra pa pum pum ra pa pum pum ra pa pum pum
So to honor him pa ra pa pum pum when we come
Little baby pa ra pa pum pum
I am a poor boy too pa ra pa pum pum
I have no gift to bring pa ra pa pum pum
That's fit to give a King pa ra pa pum pum
Ra pa pum pum ra pa pam pam ra pa pum pum
Oh shall I play for you pa ra pa pum pum on my drum
(Mary nodded yes pa ra pa pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time pa ra pa pum pum
I played my drum for him pa ra pa pum pum
I played my best for him pa ra pa pum pum
Ra pa pum pum ra pa pum pum ra pa pum pum)
Then he smiled at me pa ra pa pum pum me and my drum
Me and my drum me and my drum
I played for him on my drum on my drum
**********
7.
WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE
(John Henry Hopkins)
« © '10 Longitude Music, BMI »
We three kings of Orient are bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain moor and mountain following yonder star
Born a King on Bethlehem's plain gold I bring to crown him again
King forever ceasing never over us all to reign
Star of wonder star of night star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading still proceeding guide us to Thy perfect light
Frankincense and moor have I my gift of love and sacrifice
Pray'r and praising all men raising worship in God most high
Oh star of wonder star of night...
Westward leading still proceeding guide us to Thy perfect light
We three kings of Orient are bearing gifts we traverse afar we three kings
**********
8.
JINGLE BELLS
(James Pierpont)
« © '53 Embassy Music, BMI »
Oh jingle bells jingle bells jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh
Hey jingle bells jingle bells...
Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go laughing all the way
Bells on bobtail ring making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight
Oh jingle bells jingle bells...
[ dobro ]
Oh jingle bells jingle bells...
**********
9.
O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM
(Lewis H. Reiner - Phillips Brooks - Herbert Tovey)
« © '46 Sacred Music Foundation, BMI »
O little town of Bethlehem how still we see Thee lie
Above Thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in Thy dark street shineth the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight
O holy Child of Bethlehem descent to us we pray
Cast out our sins and enter in be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell
Oh come to us abide with us our Lord Emmanuel
[ mandolin - fiddle ]
Yet in Thy dark street shineth...
O little town of Bethlehem how still we see Thee lie
Above Thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
**********
10.
JOY TO THE WORLD
(Isaac Watts - Georg Handel)
« © '53 David Smither Music, BMI »
Joy to the world the Lord is come let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing and heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
Joy to the earth the Savior reigns let men their songs employ
While fields and floods rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy
Joy to the world...
He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nation prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of his love and wonders of his love
And wonders wonders of his love
Joy to the world...
**********
FINALE
Well times have changed but not my mem'ries
And no matter where I am at Christmas my heart is always there
Merry Christmas everybody and may God always bless you
**********