Before I converted to Catholicism, before I worked with the Jesuits, before I married a cradle Catholic, I was discussing with my future mother-in-law the sadness that seemed to take so many people during the holidays. I conjectured that I thought it had something to do with the inherent contradiction between the meaning of Jesus’ life and the way his birth was celebrated by our culture. A year later, she excitedly played this song for me and recalled that original conversation. So for sentimentality and for sentiment, this became my goto.
holiday song. Plus the Chieftans are awesome.