Byrd primarily looked up to Django Reinhardt. He moved to Washington, D.C., to study classical guitar with the renowned Sophocles Papas. He later moved to Italy where he studied with Andrés Segovia. In the early 1960's he was on a State Department tour in South America where he was introduced to a new music, the bossa nova, which was the musical passion of Brazil beginning in the late 50's. Jazz saxophonist Stan Getz had been in Brazil about six months earlier than Byrd, also on a State Department tour, where he, too, was exposed to the bossa nova. A short time later Getz called Byrd in D.C. and suggested the idea that they collaborate on a bossa nova album. That album was the introduction of bossa nova to North America.
He is perhaps most well known as a collaborator with Stan Getz on the Jazz Samba album, which featured many themes of bossa nova, and of course, samba.
Mistletoe and Holly
Charlie Byrd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's time for mistletoe and holly
Tasty pheasants, Christmas presents
Countrysides covered with snow
Oh, by gosh, by jingle
It's time for carols and Kris Kringle
Overeating, merry greetings
Then comes that big night
Giving the tree the trim
You'll hear voices by starlight
Singing a Yuletide hymn
Oh, by gosh, by golly
It's time for mistletoe and holly
Fancy ties an' granny's pies
An' folks stealin' a kiss or two
As they whisper, "Merry Christmas" to you
[Interlude:
Then comes that big night
Giving the tree the trim
You'll hear voices by starlight
Singing a Yuletide hymn]
Oh, by gosh, by golly
It's time for mistletoe and holly
Fancy ties an' granny's pies
An' folks stealin' a kiss or two
As they whisper, "Merry Christmas" to you
The lyrics of Charlie Byrd's "Mistletoe and Holly" convey the excitement and joy of the holiday season. The song highlights the various festivities associated with Christmas. The first verse mentions the presence of mistletoe and holly, which are traditional Christmas decorations. The second line talks about tasty pheasants and Christmas presents, indicating the joyous feasts and gift exchanges that are associated with the season. The third line refers to the snow-covered countryside, a common imagery associated with Christmas.
The second verse talks about carols and Kris Kringle, another name for Santa Claus, indicating the tradition of singing hymns and the giving of presents. The line "Overeating, merry greetings/From relatives you don't know" depicts the typical family gatherings during Christmas, where people tend to indulge in delicious food and meet relatives they may not have seen in a while. The song then talks about the big night of trimming the tree and hearing Yuletide hymns sung by starlight, conveying the magical atmosphere of the holiday season.
The chorus repeats the feelings of joy and excitement, as people gather for celebration with fancy ties and granny's pies. They steal kisses under the mistletoe and whisper "Merry Christmas" to each other, adding to the festive cheer.
Overall, the lyrics of "Mistletoe and Holly" paint a vivid picture of the Christmas season, capturing the feelings of joy, togetherness, and celebration.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, by gosh, by golly
Wow, it's really exciting
It's time for mistletoe and holly
It's that time of year again, when the holidays are here
Tasty pheasants, Christmas presents
There are delicious meals and fun presents to look forward to
Countrysides covered with snow
The landscape is transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland
Oh, by gosh, by jingle
Wow, it's really exciting
It's time for carols and Kris Kringle
It's that time of year again, when we sing carols and celebrate with Santa Claus
Overeating, merry greetings
We indulge in delicious food and exchange cheerful greetings
From relatives you don't know
We spend time with family members we might not know very well
Then comes that big night
The most important night is approaching
Giving the tree the trim
Decorating the Christmas tree
You'll hear voices by starlight
You'll hear people singing carols under the stars
Singing a Yuletide hymn
They're singing a song to celebrate the holiday season
Fancy ties an' granny's pies
We dress up in fancy clothes and enjoy grandma's delicious pies
An' folks stealin' a kiss or two
People are sharing affectionate moments
As they whisper, "Merry Christmas" to you
They're wishing you a happy holiday season
Oh, by gosh, by golly
Wow, it's really exciting
It's time for mistletoe and holly
It's that time of year again, when the holidays are here
Fancy ties an' granny's pies
We dress up in fancy clothes and enjoy grandma's delicious pies
An' folks stealin' a kiss or two
People are sharing affectionate moments
As they whisper, "Merry Christmas" to you
They're wishing you a happy holiday season
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOK STANFORD, FRANK SINATRA, HENRY W. SANICOLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind