Top 10 Most Misunderstood Christmas Song Lyrics

Ah, Christmas carols. Every year the same tunes bless us with their overwhelming presence, getting lodged firmly in our collective brains until sometime mid-July. And though many brave souls have attempted (successfully or not) to add to them over the years with more modern entries, most of the songs you’ll hear this season hark from the days of yore. While tradition is great and everything, not everything stays entrenched in our collective psyches as well as an unbearably catchy ditty. And so it has come to pass that there are a few interesting, often mistaken, commonly misunderstood lyrics in our favourite seasonal melodies. In fact, the situation is so common that there is even a term for misunderstood lyrics. So when you hear your friend hum along about a “proud young virgin” you can call them on their…wait for it… “ mondegreen”.

Santa's tired of this bullshit!

Tis the season to hear Christmas carols everywhere you go, 24hrs a day, for the weeks on end until every shopper drops, bank account drains, and belt pops. Whether you revel in belting out the omnipresent, undeniably catchy tunes from October to January, or cringe at the very jingle of a bell, these songs will be a big part of your life for the next few weeks. Best to get those lyrics nailed down eh?

1. Good King Wenceslas

Pick up thy rolls before I toss ye in yon snowbank

The Confusion: Who was King Wenceslas?

Why do we sing a carol about a King no one has heard of or can pronounce? Just who was this King Wenceslas anyway?

Well, this traditional carol was written in its current form in 1852 by a gentleman named John Jason Neale. The popularity and endurance of the song is owed largely to its catchy melody that was lifted directly from a 13^th century Easter carol (yes Easter carols were a thing) rhapsodizing about the coming of spring.
So Neale decides to write about “King Wenceslas” (can be pronounced Wens-ess-loz or Wensless to make things more confusing) who is based on the historical 10^th century Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia. In life Wenceslaus was a noble, not a king, who was known for being a charitable fellow after several legendary biographies were written after his death. “Good King Wenceslas” was based on the legend that he would awake in the night and bring alms to the poor. He was posthumously elevated to kingly status by the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I because why not, and declared a saint for good measure.

2. Here WeCome A-Wassailing

Wassailing tip: bring cups or instruments that can be used as cups

The Confusion: How does one go Wassailing?

The simple answer is wassailing = caroling. To go into more detail, wassailing is an ancient tradition most likely dating back to Anglo-Saxon times when people would go door to door singing Christmas carols. The term "wassail" derives from the Saxon toast of "Wæs þu hæl" meaning “Be thou hale” or “Be in good health”. In old middle English this was said "waes hael". In the middle ages wassailing was done on Twelfth Night when peasants would visit their feudal lords and sing in exchange for charitable giving. Perhaps dropping King Wenceslas's name wouldn't hurt.

3 & 4. Jingle Bells

Upsot indeed

The Confusion: Why do Bells on Bobtails ring
Bonus! How does one get Upsot?

Jingle Bells 2^nd verse: The horse was lean and lank 

Misfortune seemed his lot

We got into a drifted bank

And then we got "upsot"

Jingle Bells; what a delightful old carol full of whimsy, getting hammered and falling on your arse. If you’ve ever taken the time to sing and/or take in the full 4 verses of Jingle Bells you’ll know that it is about taking a fast-paced sleigh ride with your lady friend, getting quite drunk in the process, falling down a lot and getting laughed at by passers-by.

The second verse features the above line about driving a malnourished horse into a snow bank and getting "upsot" which is an obscure, olden times past-participle of “upset” AND/OR a popular slang term for being duly inebriated.

Jingle Bells 4^th verse: Just get a bobtailed bay 

Two forty as his speed

Hitch him to an open sleigh

And crack! you'll take the lead

You may have assumed (rightly so) that a bobtailed bay is a type of horse. Indeed - "Bobtail" refers to the method of tying or cutting the horse’s pony tail so that it doesn't get caught in the harness. A sleigh being pulled through the snow made very little noise so bells would be attached to the harness to avoid collisions with other sleighs at blind intersections. Hence, "bells on bobtails ring". Hope that clears it up for you.

"Two forty as his speed" refers to a mile in 2 minutes 40 seconds while trotting. This is considered an excellent speed, therefore suggesting the horse is of good quality. In case you were wondering.

5. Silent Night

Soon

The Confusion: What's going on with the Virgin? Round young virgin? Proud young virgin?

This is a simple case of olden day language and modern day laziness. The confusion comes from this line:

Silent night, holy night/All is calm, all is bright/'Round yon virgin mother and child.

It means, my friends, that all is calm and all is bright AROUND YON (yonder….ok, yonder: at some distance in the direction indicated) virgin, mother and child (that’s Jesus!). Yes, old English is tricky.

6. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Yum! A steaming pile of figgy pudding!

The Confusion: Tell us about this supposedly delicious 'Figgy Pudding'

Arguably the most fun part to sing in this Christmas carol staple is the verse demanding “figgy pudding” at threat of a sit-in.

O Bring us some figgy pudding

O Bring us some figgy pudding

O Bring us some figgy pudding

And bring it right here

And we won’t go until we’ve got some

We won’t go until we’ve got some

We won’t go until we’ve got some

And bring it right here

Not a good lesson in manners.

Figgy pudding was an early version of the ever-present Christmas cake or Christmas pudding that was flavoured mainly with figs. It can be baked, steamed, boiled or fried and looks just as tasty as the stuff you can break your teeth on every year. Earliest references to figgy pudding date back to 16^th century England. Mmmm figgy.

7. Walking in a Winter Wonderland

I'm legally qualified!

The Confusion: Who on earth is Parson Brown?

In the meadow we can build a snowman, then pretend that he is Parson Brown.

He'll say 'Are You Married?' We'll say 'No man,

but you can do the job while you're in town!'

The explanation for this is simple, really. The characters in the song have built a snowman, pretended it was a traveling clergyman and decided to spontaneously get hitched. Just your average snow day.

When “Walking in aWinter Wonderland” was written, back in 1934, it was common for Protestant ministers to travel from town to town to perform wedding ceremonies and other religious services in rural areas where they did not have a local minister or “parson”, as they were then called. Brown was inserted as a common last name. Thus, Parson Brown, the travelling clergyman made of snow – equipped to declare those crazy kids hitched.

8 & 9. The 12 Days of Christmas

9 and 10 are hosting this year's office party

The Confusion: Why would I want Turtle Doves? Calling Birds? Or a Partridge in a Pear Tree for that matter?

OK, so what gives here? Why would my true love give me all these birds I’d never heard of over a 12 day period?

“The 12 Days of Christmas” has been suggested to be full of symbolism and meaning. I could go on for pages on the significance of all 12 gifts but I’m thinking at this point you've been awfully patient to stay with me this far into the article. Let’s keep it simple and start with the 12 days thing. For the uninitiated, Christmas was traditionally celebrated over a period of 12 days, beginning with Christmas day, Dec 25, and ending on January 7 or “Twelfth Night”, ergo, one gift per day.

So why would someone give me two turtle doves? Turtle doves, a species found in most parts of the world, have evolved to embody devoted love. They form strong pair bonds and have a mournful call that is considered romantic. Crucially, they are featured in the bible, a pair of them being sacrificed for the birth of Jesus. Two turtle doves it is.

These two turtle doves are currently not speaking to each other

That true love of mine also gives me 4 Calling Birds or is it Colly Birds? The original version of the song, written in 1780, features 4 Colly Birds as the fourth. Colly being an archaic way to say black – referring to soot or grime like coal dust. The Colly Bird the song refers to is the common blackbird. Over time “colly birds” has morphed to “calling birds” because that just makes more sense to our modern-time brains.

So what is the significance of a partridge in a pear tree? No one knows.

10. Auld Lang Syne

Friends Forever!

The Confusion: Auld Lang Huh?

With lyrics taken from a poem written on old Scots by legendary Scottish poet Robbie Burns, it’s no wonder this New Year’s Eve favourite is one of the most gleefully misunderstood songs in the Carol books. It could be argued that part of the charm of Auld Lang Syne is the fact that it’s sang with such (often inebriated) gusto.  As people give themselves over to the general sentiment of the song, the words in particular are of little importance. However, for the curious let’s do a bit of translating.

So what/who/where is Auld Lang Syne? The Scots words translate into English literally as “old long since” or as you would say “long, long ago” or “once upon a time”. Alright, that part of the mystery solved, what are we really singing about? Well you might have gotten the feeling, being that the song is sang rather emotionally at the turn of the new year, at funerals and other rites of passage, that the song is about honouring the good old days and remembering  every “auld acquaintance”. Sometimes the sentiment of a song speaks louder than it’s confusing misheard Scottish lyrics.

The main part of the song we sing today goes like this:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

The complete original lyrics and their translations / modifications can be found here: Auld Lang Syne

So raise your glass and impress your acquaintances, young and old, with your now-extensive knowledge of the obscure, archaic and wonderfully misunderstood Christmas Carols we sing today.

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Copywriters: Disappearing into Obscurity or More Relevant than Ever?

Image courtesy of Just2Shutter freedigitalphotos.net

For better or worse the glamorous days of the cocktail swilling, designer suit wearing, fast talking Madison Avenue copywriters are behind us. Copywriters, in the classic sense, are a dying breed. The position of the traditional copywriter is being eclipsed by a newer, more technical model with all sorts of bells and whistles.

The term “Copywriter” doesn’t cover the simple definition it used to. It is now used as a blanket term that covers writers inhabiting a wide range of specialties and skills.  

Types of copywriter job titles include:

Online Article Copywriting, SEO Copywriting, Website Copywriting, Copywriting for Publishers, Agency Copywriter, and Freelance Copywriter

Let’s talk about the different breeds that exist today:

Traditional Copywriter
-includes Copywriting for Publishers, Agency Copywriter

The traditional copywriters of today are an updated version of that Mad Men creature we love. They usually work for creative agencies in a collaborative environment, attending client and strategy meetings, coming out with a creative brief and working closely with art directors and other creatives.  Brainstorming, scribbling furiously, writing, rewriting, “killing your darlings” and writing again - a typical day for a traditional copywriter. They are coming up with ingenious slogans, copy for print ads, radio, television, and increasingly digital and interactive media. Today’s traditional copywriters are using a lot more analytical and market research to reach their audience. Cocktails may still occasionally be on the menu, but hashing out ideas over a quick coffee is more the order of the day.

SEO Copywriter (or Content Writer)
-Often employed in-house or contracted out directly for businesses
-Includes Website Copywriting, often Freelance

Digital, mobile, social media, web, all of these shiny new(ish) elements of marketing strategy involve a hefty amount of Search Engine Optimization. SEO has become so relevant and important to the success of online marketing that possessing that skill set has skyrocketed in demand. SEO copywriters have the ability to create content so engaging that people want to share it, promote it and link to it. This has become vital in search engine ranking, driving traffic to websites, and ultimately establishing trust and reputation with potential clients. SEO copywriters are the new whiz kids and there is an element of what they do permeating every form of copywriting. You may recognize them sitting in a dark corner of a coffee shop muttering about “keyword density”, “adwords”, “gizmos” , “indexing”, “linking”, “spiders”, “splogs” and “widgets”….etc

Content Strategist

-Shiny new term for do-it-all copywriters, often employed by agencies or in-house directly for businesses
-includes elements of SEO Copywriting, Website Copywriting, Online Article Copywriting and Traditional Copywriting

Strangely enough, this type of copywriter doesn’t necessarily do that much writing. While many content strategists do produce their own copy, the main facet of a content strategist position is that of strategist. Surprise! They come up with the action plan for the copy being produced for a project. They do keyword searches, set key phrases and linking, and may then hand that over to a copywriter to do the actual writing. Often they come from a copywriting background and have a track record of expertise in crafting compelling, shareable content packed with well-researched keywords. These experts are in demand.

The Need for Words

Just like the advertising/marketing world itself, the role of copywriters is ever evolving. The value of strategic, creative, well-written copy will never be lost in obscurity. It will continue to be relevant as long as the written word is a key form of human communication. But the position of a copywriter will morph and adapt to the new media as it comes. Today’s copywriters have the ability and the necessity to be more hands on with the strategy, using analytic research more than ever and applying the principles of good SEO. Fear not! Copywriters will continue to be an integral part of marketing world for many, many years to come.

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Social Media’s Impact on Marketing

The use of social media has become ubiquitous in business strategy, incorporated in marketing plans from multinational corporations to mom & pop doughnut shops. It has gotten to the point that if your business doesn’t have a social media presence it seems suspect, a sign that you don’t have the resources or are simply behind the times.

For a marketing vehicle to get this kind of universal implementation, it must change the very face of marketing itself. So how can we define social media’s impact on marketing?

Here are the Top 4 Ways Social Media has Impacted Marketing

Immediate Data

Data has always been at the centre of marketing decisions, but with the birth of social media marketers have more information than ever at the tips of their fingers. Targeting has never been easier or more efficient with the abilities many platforms provide to choose their audience based on a multitude of demographics. Hyper-targeting is allowing businesses to reach their clients in a way that was never available before without expensive, time consuming market research. Marketers are spending less money in traditional media like print, not because print is losing relevancy, but because it is less efficient than social media.

Tracking the results of a campaign has become a lot easier as well. With social media the numbers roll in while you watch, monitoring and measuring reactions in real time.

The 2-Sided Conversation

Social media’s interactive nature has allowed businesses to reach their audience in a completely interactive way, creating a valuable (though not without its pitfalls) back-and-forth.  For the first time companies have been able to create a real dialogue, eliminating the middlemen and speaking directly to their audience. This gives businesses new options to speak not only through a well-strategized corporate representative, but directly from the employees, the experts and other customers. Marketers can now take the time to nurture new leads before directly selling to them - what a wonderful opportunity to build relevancy in a new way. Hearing a brand’s story from “real people” like front-line employees creates trust. Add to that some great, well-placed content to build a reputation that the skeptical consumer of today can relate to.

Shifting from Interruption to Inbound

The way that consumers are hearing marketing messages has largely shifted from interruption (tv commercials, pop-ups, spam) to inbound (videos, blogging, webinars, content marketing). This means the audience has increased control over what they see, when & where. Truly effective marketing has begun to evolve from specific campaign talking points to a brand-aligned conversation that is not always about products. For marketers to make a valuable impact it is vital to adjust their messaging to fit mobile formats, providing quick hits of info in smaller, more bite-sized pieces.

The New Marketing Category

The popularity of social media has in essence created the new category of DIGITAL MARKETING, a genre buzz word that covers marketing and advertising using mobile devices and digital media. In reality what has been created is a new set of platforms to reach the audience.  What marketers should really look at is how social media has changed the way we should categorize marketing strategies. Social media has a hand in several categories including advertising, customer communications and public relations. Digital marketing is not something to be tacked on to a campaign; it should be integrated. The ability to reach people instantly, optimally, and interactively has the potential to magnify the impact of the message if properly integrated.

The Song Remains the Same

At the end of the day, the heart of marketing hasn’t changed. Messaging content needs to stay creative, clever, entertaining and ultimately engaging to the audience. Businesses need to reach the right people at the right time in the right places and have something to say. All the old tactics are there – simply updated using increasingly efficient tools and technology. At the end of the day no matter how flashy and fun a new mobile platform may be, if the return on investment isn’t there, it’s back to the drawing board.

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Your $50,000 Starbucks Habit. Make Your Own Coffee and Retire Early?

I was recently sent this article on Forbes.com that I read in a feverish frenzy. Retiring young seems completely unattainable for my generation. For recent grads - those nearing 30, the idea of retiring someday is itself a miracle that only a few of us will achieve. And that has a lot to do with our spend-happy culture and our need for everyday luxuries. The real brain-blaster in all this is the fact that not only is this spending NOT making us happy, but it is probably contributing to being less happy in the future.

The figures brought to attention in this article may make your jaw hit the floor. Do you realize that seemingly small weekly Starbucks expenditure contributes to tens of thousands of dollars/decade?! This eye-opening interview gives us a starkly realistic view on holding debt and spending needlessly. And what we're missing out on. What a lot of this early retirement stuff boils down to is your grandmother's banal advice "a penny saved is a penny earned"

Yep, you better read this! 

How Mr. Money Mustache Retired at Age 30 and How You Can Too

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Paper Books Still Alive and Well

Here's a great article explaining how the struggling publishing industry will survive to see another day. A great, comforting read for those of us who love books in their traditional form, and especially for those who dream of someday getting published. 

http://www.salon.com/2013/03/21/books_arent_dead_yet/

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See the Colourful Streets of 1900s Paris

Check out this link to see some astounding real colour photographs taken in early 1900s Paris. http://curiouseggs.com/extremely-rare-color-photography-of-early-1900s-paris/ Apparently the images have not been altered, touched up or Photoshopped in any way. They are the original images taken using Autochrome Lumiere technology. A technique invented by the Lumiere brothers. See the true colours of Paris in days long past! I think these images are fascinating. What do you think?

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Organized Reading: A classic, An alternative, A mind-expander, An industry book and A guilty pleasure

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago in my post about killing the post-holiday blues, I’m more than a bit of a bookworm. But I’ve decided to put this book-devouring nature of mine to good use. To do this, I devised a simple plan to become more well-rounded in my book selections.

My system is simple. I will alternate between reading :

•          a classic novel
•          an alternative book (this can be a graphic novel, poetry, essays, or just a post-modern style novel)
•          a mind-expanding non fiction
•          an industry book – something related to my field (advertising, marketing, writing in general)
•          a guilty pleasure

Courtesy of the Ottawa Public Library, and one Christmas gift, my first 5 have been selected.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn – Betty Smith
Written in 1943, this is a classic novel about poverty, alcoholism, sexuality, honesty and the need for optimism and tenacity in early 20^th century Brooklyn.

The Complete Cosmicomics – Italo Calvino
A collection of postmodern short stories loosely following the creation and history of earth and the universe from the point of view of characters that have lived and experienced the entire thing. A major theme is love and evolution. Unlike anything I have ever read, by the genius author of If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler

The God Delusion – Richard Dawkins

The blockbuster, non-fiction book by genius Richard Dawkins that argues that the belief in a “nonexistent personal God” qualifies as a delusion - a persistent false belief held in the face of strong contradictory evidence. I know almost everyone and their mother has read this book, which shows just how necessary organizing my reading really is.

The Idea Writers – Teressa Iezzi

This guide to copywriting in the ever-evolving world of advertising and marketing, discusses the change from the static ad to the interactive, multiplatform ads of today. Can’t wait to learn what this great book has to teach me on sharpening my creative writing skills for today’s changing industry.

And Finally…

The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
It’s finally time I read the book that everyone is talking about. I mean, it’s already an award-winning film. Gosh. This is my chosen guilty pleasure, a novel that people have been rightfully shoving in my face for ages. Apparently once I start, I won’t be stopping till I’ve turned the last page. Looking forward to this one, if for no other reason than to shut up my sister.

Wish me luck!

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What They're Really Saying on the Field

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Is there a future for public libraries?

How will they evolve as E-books eclipse the paper book?

In the battle between traditional books and E-books, many would say traditional books are on the path to retreat. While Kindles and Kobos provide a simple, compact, technological alternative to the burden and clutter of weighty paper tomes, it may be hard to argue in favour of the traditional book. E-books and E-readers make accessing literature as simple and convenient as the click of a mouse. Compare that to the tactile experience of traveling to a book store or library, searching bodily for a volume and physically carrying it to and fro.

But do the boons of the changing literary technology render the traditional book and it’s once ubiquitous community outlet - the library, obsolete?

To me, a frequent library patron and lover of books, it would be a crying shame to close the communities’ libraries. In the matter of the physical book versus the electronic version, it can be a matter of personal preference. Some prefer to collect and build up their bookshelves, some just like the feel of thumbing the pages, for others it goes further involving nostalgia and childhood memories. But is the practicality of housing, transporting and manufacturing the paper book becoming simply not worth it?

I could go on about the virtues of the paper book and how I believe enthusiasts like myself will ensure they never completely fade away. But the library issue is about more than paper vs click. Many would argue that as long as people are reading, what matters the format? E-books are cheaper, easier on the environment, available at a click. True, all true. But let’s get back to libraries.

If E-books, and the receding popularity of reading in its traditional sense are to blame for the closure of libraries then the libraries must evolve. And many are. Many libraries across the modern world are digitizing their collections. Unfortunately government cuts in funding to public libraries have been increasing steadily since the 1990s. Ironically, this makes it difficult for libraries to modernize, making themselves more accessible to today’s public.

Many of you might be thinking back on the last time you set foot in a public library. Was it that research paper in 4^th year? Yes, library attendance is going down. But for a large segment of the population it provides a much needed haven. For years libraries have been providing a bridge over the digital divide, providing computer and internet access freely to the public. Providing a warm place to go, learn and feel connected is a vital service our community needs.

So all that to pose  the question:

Do you see an evolution or an extinction of the world’s public libraries?

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Killing the Post-Holiday Blues

Your pocketbook is empty and your Visa bill high, the shops and bars are ghost towns, you’ve packed on a few extra pounds and it’s freezing out. The cheerfulness of the holiday season is over and the rest of the bleak winter is before us. Here come the post-holiday blues.

For as long as I can remember the weeks following New Year’s Day have been filled with a devastating holiday hangover. The weeks-long build-up of holiday cheer, shopping, eating, drinking, socializing, spending, reaches a crescendo over the week of Christmas and New Years and promptly drops us off the other side into a bleak, icy-cold abyss. Perhaps you think I’m being a bit dramatic. I am. But truthfully, this time of year can be an awfully depressing one. A lot of people throw themselves into the ambition of resolutions and new beginnings. This sounds like a lot of work.

So how do we make it fun?

Similar to the resolutions, I have devised a plan. A 5 Step Plan. Some things I will do to enjoy the winter, rebound my bank account, lose some holiday pounds and have a good time doing it.

Step 1: Write More

First things first, I will write more. Writing is what I love to do, so why not start there? My goal is for one extra piece of writing per week - be it short story, poem, essay, journal entry, what have you. Some of these gems I will share with you here.

Step 2: Organized Reading

I have no problem picking up a book. I love reading as much as I love writing. Some might even say I devour books. I will read most things thrown at me and do. So here, my plan is to have a plan when it comes to what I read over the coming frigid weeks. Alternating between mind-expanding non-fiction, business-related non-fiction, classic fiction, alternative (ex: graphic novels, essay collections, etc), and of course guilty pleasures. I’ll keep you posted on my reading list.

Step 3: New Opportunities

I will make a conscious effort to seek out and experience new opportunities. In my career, socially, and by trying things outside my comfort zone. Skydiving anyone?

Step 4: Improve my French

My enthusiasm to learn a second language goes way back to my early childhood when my bilingual babysitter would speak to me in French and English. I continued my French studies all through elementary and high school, learning the basics. But why go only half way? Algonquin College Language Institute, here I come.

Step 5: Make Winter My Friend

Winter and I have been frenemies for most of my life. Though I’ve always enjoyed winter activities like sledding and skating, over the years the cold temperatures have become more and more of a deterrent. This winter I aim to stop dashing from door as quickly as possible and whole up in my warm and cozy apartment. I will bundle the hell up and face the cold head on. I will hit the canal with sharpened skates, resume my burgeoning love affair with snowboarding, and maybe even take up cross country skiing. Take that winter! 

And just like that I will put to rest the post-holiday blues. How will you beat the blues?

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