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Over frosted fields I roam
Where the tawny owl and blackbird (have) flown
Going home
Over quayside path in snow
Marshland breezes through my tee shirt blows
Going home
Watch the sailing boats at sea
Where the seal pups born on Christmas Day
They’re not alone
Shooting stars across the sky
December’s magic feeling fills my eyes
I’m not alone
When the turtle doves have gone
Still the march hares play in winter’s sun
Coming home
Churches candles all aglow
Christmas memories I can’t let go
Coming home
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2. |
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I'm … dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten … and children listen
To hear … sleigh bells in the snow
I'm … dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm … dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten … and children listen
To hear … sleigh bells in the snow
I'm … dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
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3. |
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God rest you merry gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born upon this day
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name
O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy
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4. |
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In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone …
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter, long ago
Our god, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain
Heaven and earth shall flee away, when he comes to reign
In the bleak midwinter, a stable place sufficed
The lord God almighty, Jesus Christ
Angels and archangels, may have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim, thronged the air
But his mother only, in her maiden bliss
Worshiped the beloved, with a kiss
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb
If I were a wise man, I would do my part
Yet what I can I give him, give my heart
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5. |
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You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
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
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
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
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6. |
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On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
News of great joy, news of great mirth
News of our merciful King's birth
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7. |
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Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping on your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like ......
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is going to spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so, I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it’s been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
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8. |
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Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
It doesn't show signs of stopping
And I brought some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
When we finally kiss good night
How I'll hate going out in the storm
But if you really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm
The fire is slowly dying
And, my dear we're still goodbye-ing
But as long as you love me so
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
When we finally kiss good night
How I'll hate going out in the storm
But if you really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm
Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
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9. |
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Hark how the bells, Sweet silver bells,
All seem to say, Throw cares away
Christmas is here, Bringing good cheer,
To young and old, Meek and the bold.
Ding dong ding dong, That is their song,
With joyful ring All caroling
One seems to hear, Words of good cheer,
From everywhere, Filling the air.
Oh how they pound, Raising the sound,
O'er hill and dale, Telling their tale.
Gaily they ring, While people sing,
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here.
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas,
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas.
On and on they send, On without end,
Their joyful tone To every home.
Ding dong ding dong, Ding dong ding dong
Hark how the bells, Sweet silver bells,
All seem to say, Throw cares away
(We will throw cares away)
Christmas is here, Bringing good cheer,
To young and old, Meek and the bold.
(Bringing cheer to the young and old)
Oh how they pound, Raising the sound,
O'er hill and dale, Telling their tale.
Gaily they ring, While people sing,
Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here.
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas,
Merry Christmas
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas,
Merry Christmas
On and on they send, On without end,
Their joyful tone, To every home.
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10. |
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The first Nowell
The angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they
Lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Nowell Nowell … Nowell Nowell
Born is the King of Israel …
Nowell Nowell … Nowell Nowell
Born is the King of Israel
The first Nowell
The angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they
Lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night
That was so deep
Nowell Nowell … Nowell Nowell
Born is the King of Israel …
Nowell Nowell … Nowell Nowell
Born is the King of Israel
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11. |
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Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake, at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Hallelujah
Christ the Saviour is born
Christ the Saviour is born
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
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12. |
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I'm … dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten … and children listen
To hear … sleigh bells in the snow
I'm … dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm … dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten … and children listen
To hear … sleigh bells in the snow
I'm … dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
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13. |
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In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone …
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter, long ago
Our god, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain
Heaven and earth shall flee away, when he comes to reign
In the bleak midwinter, a stable place sufficed
The lord God almighty, Jesus Christ
Angels and archangels, may have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim, thronged the air
But his mother only, in her maiden bliss
Worshiped the beloved, with a kiss
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb
If I were a wise man, I would do my part
Yet what I can I give him, give my heart
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14. |
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Over frosted fields I roam
Where the tawny owl and blackbird (have) flown
Going home
Over quayside path in snow
Marshland breezes through my tee shirt blows
Going home
Watch the sailing boats at sea
Where the seal pups born on Christmas Day
They’re not alone
Shooting stars across the sky
December’s magic feeling fills my eyes
I’m not alone
When the turtle doves have gone
Still the march hares play in winter’s sun
Coming home
Churches candles all aglow
Christmas memories I can’t let go
Coming home
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In these uncertain, unprecedented and changeable times we can at least appreciate that there are some things of which we can be quite sure – Christmas Day will fall on December 25th.
Usually, no Christmas Eve was complete until the voices of the Morston Carol Singers fill the village starry night sky air as they entertain locals and guests while collecting money for the maintenance and repair of All Saints Church.
However, under pandemic restrictions it was difficult to guarantee that this annual delight would be feasible (or even permitted) under COVID-19 guidelines.
As a form of alternative festive fare, Morston-based musician Richard Longley, together with Sandra Morris, wrote ‘A Morston Tale’ – an exclusive Christmas song for the village. Featuring vocals by Sandra’s daughter Bethan and performed by Richard’s band ‘Les Bicyclettes de Belsize’, the song pictures the scene around Morston, over frosted fields with crystal snowflakes blanketing the marshes - while seal pups, March Hares, Tawny Owls and more appear in the glow of the candles flickering in the church.
To accompany ‘A Morston Tale’, Richard and Bethan joined with 'Les Bicyclettes de Belsize' and ‘The Merstona Orchestra’ - conducted by D’Arby Stakes – to record an album of much-loved popular songs and traditional carols.
The resulting collection of songs can be heard and downloaded here for just £10.00 - or pay more if you’d like to - with proceeds from sales going to Friends of Morston Church, a registered charity dedicated to raising funds for the maintenance and repair of All Saints Church, Morston, Norfolk (
www.fmc.org.uk)
The album cover art is a gorgeous oil painting of the creek by the quayside from north Norfolk artist Sally Temple
sallytempleartist.wixsite.com/sallytempleartist
The full track listing is:
01 A Morston Tale – Les Bicyclettes de Belsize
02 White Christmas – Les Bicyclettes de Belsize
03 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (instrumental) – The Merstona Orchestra
04 In The Bleak Midwinter – Bethan Morris
05 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – Les Bicyclettes de Belsize
06 The Sussex Carol (instrumental feat: Rob Lamontagne) – The Merstona Orchestra
07 The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting) (instrumental) – The Merstona Orchestra
08 Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow – Les Bicyclettes de Belsize
09 Carol of the Bells (instrumental) – The Merstona Orchestra
10 The First Nowell (instrumental) – The Merstona Orchestra
11 Silent Night – Bethan Morris
bonus tracks:
12 White Christmas (alternative version) – Bethan Morris / Richard Longley
13 In The Bleak Midwinter (alternative version) – Bethan Morris
14 A Morston Tale (demo) - Richard Longley
released December 1, 2020
Produced by Richard Longley at The Studio at the End of the Universe
Richard - guitars, programming, arrangements
Bethan Morris - vocals
David Osborne - lead guitar
Rob Lamontagne - vocal announcer
Les Bicyclettes de Belsize are:
Richard Longley - vocals, guitars
Bethan Morris - vocals
Robert Kett - bass
Will Fellowes - drums
Chris Myngs - keyboards
Live tracks recorded at The Hotel Ballroom Nightly
The Merstona Orchestra are conducted by D'Arby Stakes
String arrangements by Richard Longley
