C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
Diane Collins Lyrics
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That I'd be getting lots of toys that day
I learned a whole lot different when mother set me down
And taught me to spell Christmas this way
See is for the Christ Child born upon this day H is for Herald Angels in the night
Are means our redeemer I means Israel S is for the stars that shone so bright
(T is for three wise men they who traveled far M is for the manger where he lay)
A's for all he stands for S means shepherds came
That's why there's a Christmas Day
In Diane Collins's song C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S, the lyrics trace the journey of the lead singer's understanding of Christmas, from a time when she associated the holiday with getting lots of toys, to an understanding that it is about the birth of Jesus Christ. The song uses the letters of the word Christmas as an acronym to spell out a series of important elements of the Christmas story.
The first letter "C" stands for the Christ child who was born on this day. This line emphasizes the centrality of Jesus in the Christmas celebration. The letter "H" stands for the herald angels that appeared at night, announcing the birth of Jesus. The song highlights the angelic presence in the nativity story, invoking the sense of wonder and magic that characterizes the holiday. "R" stands for Redeemer, a term that refers to Jesus' role in reconciling humanity with God. Next, "I" stands for Israel, the nation that was the birthplace of Jesus. The letter "S" stands for the stars that shone bright on the night of his birth. The song emphasizes the cosmic and supernatural aspects of the Christmas story. Finally, the letter "T" stands for the three wise men who came from afar to pay homage to baby Jesus. The song connects the Christmas story to the long history of Jewish prophecy foretelling the coming of a saviour. The letter "M" stands for the manger where Jesus lay, and the letter "A" for all that he stands for. Lastly, the letter "S" stands for the shepherds who came to worship baby Jesus.
Taken together, Diane Collins presents a nuanced and layered understanding of the Christmas story, weaving together historical, theological and supernatural elements to create a rich and evocative portrait of the holiday.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was but a youngster Christmas meant one thing
As a child, the excitement of receiving a lot of toys defined the essence of Christmas for me
I learned a whole lot different when mother set me down
However, my perception of Christmas drastically changed after my mother sat me down
And taught me to spell Christmas this way
She taught me to understand the true meaning of Christmas through this acronym
S is for the Christ Child born upon this day H is for Herald Angels in the night Are means our redeemer I means Israel S is for the stars that shone so bright
Breaking down the acronym: S represents the birth of Christ, H for the angels announcing his arrival, A for our savior, I for where he was born (Israel), and S for the star that guided the wise men
(T is for three wise men they who traveled far M is for the manger where he lay)
Continuing the acronym: T stands for the three wise men who traveled afar, and M for the manger where he laid
A's for all he stands for S means shepherds came
Lastly, A represents all that Christ stands for, and S represents the visit of the shepherds to him
And that's why there's a Christmas Day
Understanding this acronym is the reason why we celebrate Christmas
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDDY ARNOLD, JENNY LOU CARSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind