The group sings in a contemporary style, integrating R&B and jazz influences into their devotional songs and has 10 Grammy wins, 10 Dove Awards, one Soul Train Award and two NAACP Image Award nominations. They won Grammy Awards in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1998, and 2003 and have collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Don Henley, Ray Charles, Queen Latifah, Joe Sample, Quincy Jones, Marcus Miller and Gordon Goodwin.
In 1980, Claude McKnight formed an a cappella quartet, The Gentlemen's Estate Quartet, at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, a Seventh-Day Adventist College, where he was a freshman. He auditioned fellow students for the hobby group. The Gentlemen were rehearsing in a campus bathroom (later said to be in Peterson Hall), getting ready for a performance, when Mark Kibble walked by and heard them singing. He joined the harmonizing, adding a fifth part, and ended up singing with them onstage that very night.[1] Mark later invited Mervyn Warren to join the group. The group performed under the moniker "Alliance".
The group performed in local churches and on campus over the next years, with members changing due to college's inevitable comings and goings. In 1985, the lower half of the group (bass, baritone, and second tenor) left upon graduating. At that time, Alvin Chea, Cedric Dent, and David Thomas joined.
The group was signed to Warner Brothers in 1987, and quickly changed its name to "Take 6" after a name search revealed that "Alliance" was already being used. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1988, won them two Grammy Awards and resulted in top ten appearances on both the Billboard Contemporary Jazz and Contemporary Christian Charts. Take 6's swinging, harmony-rich gospel sound attracted a flurry of attention, and the group went on to record or appear with a number of luminaries, including Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and Stevie Wonder.
In 1991, after the release of their second album, So Much 2 Say, Mervyn Warren left the group to pursue a career as a producer. Joey Kibble, Mark's younger brother, was invited to round out the vocal lineup. The group added instrumentation to their purely a cappella sound beginning with the record He Is Christmas; Join The Band and Brothers continued their streak of success, and Take 6 amassed a total of seven Grammys and eight Dove awards, as well as topping the Downbeat Magazine's Reader's and Critic's poll for seven years' consecutively.
Take 6's 1998 release, So Cool, brought the group back to its a cappella origins.
In 2006 the group launched Take 6 Records and the 2006 release Feels Good was released on that label.
The group currently lists Nashville, Tennessee as its home.[2] All members grew up Seventh-Day Adventist.[
Have Yourself a Merry Little Chiristmas
Take 6 Lyrics
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Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on, our troubles will be miles away
Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
The lyrics to "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Take 6 are a beautiful reminder to focus on the positive and to cherish the people who are near to us during the holiday season. The song begins with a wish for the listener to have a merry Christmas and to let their heart be light. This is a call to let go of any stresses or worries and to instead focus on enjoying the holiday season. The singer reassures the listener that any troubles they may be experiencing will soon be out of sight as Christmas brings a hopeful and joyful energy to the world.
The song continues with a call for the listener to make the Yuletide gay, which is an old-fashioned term for making Christmas festive and joyful. The singer conjures up a sense of nostalgia by referencing the olden days and happy golden days of yore. They call upon faithful friends who mean something special to us to gather near to us once more, which is a bittersweet reminder to cherish the people in our lives who are important to us.
The final verses talk about the importance of tradition and hope for the future. The singer reminds listeners that through the years, we will all be together (if the fates allow) and that we should hang a shining star upon the highest bough as a symbol of hope and joy for the coming year. This song is a beautiful reminder to hold onto hope and joy during the holiday season, and to treasure the people who matter most in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Wishing you a happy and joyous Christmas
Let your heart be light
Embrace the spirit of Christmas and fill your heart with happiness
From now on, our troubles will be out of sight
Let's forget our worries and enjoy this festive season to the fullest
Make the Yuletide gay
Bring cheer and joy to this Christmas celebration
From now on, our troubles will be miles away
Let's leave our problems behind and enjoy the festive season far away from them
Here we are as in olden days
We are here just like in the old times - celebrating Christmas together
Happy golden days of yore
Reminiscing about the happy days of the past
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Cherishing the company of our close and dependable friends
Gather near to us once more
Let's come together again and celebrate this special occasion
Through the years we all will be together
We will be together for many years to come, celebrating Christmas every year
If the fates allow
If it is meant to be, we will continue to meet and celebrate together
So hang a shining star upon the highest bough
Let's decorate our places with a shining star to celebrate the birth of Jesus
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
So, start enjoying and celebrate this Christmas with lots of fun and happiness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind