Poetry Train Monday - 29 - The Christmas Waltz

Today was the annual Putting Up Christmas Lights Party. Since my sister moved home from Toronto in 2002, we've turned putting up the outside lights for Mom into a mini party. Usually it's just my sister and me, but sometimes my husband Brad joins us. Mom cooks up something yummy while my sister and I start the fun by filling our Christmas mugs with wine. For me now it's whisky. No more wine for my migraines. But the whisky helps, some, as our old friend Randy used to say.


This was us last year. We plug Mom's CD player outside on the porch, and we always start the proceedings with Frank Sinatra's 1957 'A Jolly Christmas'. "I love those J-I-N-G-L-E bells, Oh!" We giggle, we go back inside to get warm, we sing, we go up and down the ladder, we drop hooks, we pass hooks, we untangle lights and cords and deck the front of the house, all to the strains of Frankie. And then we usually move on to the Novelty Salesmen, a local group with fabulous oldtimey harmonies that blend perfectly with Old Blue Eyes. Their 'Christmas on the Town' CD is great.


And this was us, the year before that. Early on in the festivities we come to Frank's 'Christmas Waltz', which has become my FAVORITE Christmas song. I usually stop what I'm doing and just enjoy the magical mood of this song, the lyrics, his gorgeous voice. For the Poetry Train I'm sharing this with you. The lyrics were written by Sammy Cahn, with music by Jule Styne. This link will give you a figure skater's program to Frank Sinatra's song.

The Christmas Waltz by Frank Sinatra


Frosted window panes
Candles gleaming inside
Painted candy canes on the tree
Santa's on his way
He's filled his sleigh with things
Things for you and for me





It's that time of year
When the world falls in love
Ev'ry song you hear seems to say
"Merry Christmas,
"May your New Year dreams come true"


And this song of mine

In three-quarter time

Wishes you and yours

The same thing, too

by Sammy Cahn
(music by Jule Styne)