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American Noel

by Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer

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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Joy My Love EP, Little Blue Egg, American Noel, Seven Is the Number, drum hat buddha, Tanglewood Tree, and When I Go. , and , .

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    An 8-song collection of traditional and original holiday songs. Proceeds benefit the Dakin Human Society of Massachusetts.

    Includes unlimited streaming of American Noel via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.
go tell the fox baby’s in his cradle, go tell the rabbit where the snow lies deep born in a manger, dreamin in the stable, there lies the christ child fast asleep go tell the barber, go and tell the banker, go tell the farmer in the frozen corn go tell the sailor lookin for an anchor, go tell the drifter in the ice white storm little baby jesus this night is born go tell the risin wind, poundin at the stormy sea go tell the clouds that hover, rain that flies and trees that shudder go tell the baron, notify the princess, go tell the duchess in her castle cold tell mister herod, countin up his census, countin up his sorrows and his chains of gold little baby jesus gonna free your soul go tell the sinner weepin in his prison, go tell the widow on her lonely way go tell the seeker searchin for a reason, wake the philosopher old and gray tell ‘em baby jesus was born today
2.
bring a torch, jeanette, isabella bring a torch, go quickly and run christ is born, tell the folk of the village jesus is sleeping, mary's singing ah, ah, beautiful is the mother ah, ah, beautiful is the son quietly now, not to waken sweet jesus quietly now, and whispering low silence to keep as we gather around him talking and noise might waken jesus hush, hush, quietly now he slumbers hush, hush, quietly now he sleeps softly creep in the little rude stable softly just for this one moment come catch one glimpse of the tiny child jesus tender his brow, how sweetly he's dreaming hush, hush, quietly now he slumbers hush, hush, quietly now he sleeps ah, ah, beautiful is the mother ah, ah, beautiful is the son
3.
lo, how a rose e'er bloomin from tender stem hath sprung of jesse's lineage comin as those of old have sung it came a floweret bright amid the cold of winter when half spent was the night isaiah 'twas foretold it this rose i have in mind with mary we behold it the virgin mother kind to show god's love aright she bore to us a savior when half spent was the night lo how a rose ... the shepherds heard the story proclaimed by angels bright how christ the lord of glory was born on earth this night to bethlehem they sped and in the manger found him as angel heralds said lo how a rose ... lo how a rose ...
4.
these days it's a road less traveled this path of the solid ground when straight and narrow runs to gravel sometimes it's the long way 'round christmas eve is a lonely highway i walk on a weary mile sister, if you're going my way can i wander with you a while are you goin down to bethlehem with a shooting star to guide you though the trail's a river of frozen tears and the trees are bent with snow if you're going down to bethlehem can i walk a while beside you in the footsteps of the faithful on a christmas long ago oh my brother, when your feet get weary i will come when i hear your call when the days go dark and dreary catch me up if i start to fall if we both should slip and stumble on the road to the freedom land there's a greater to share our troubles just reach out and he'll take your hand are you goin down to bethlehem ... look up now from the road of danger love you, one another there's a light shinin in the manger now, get up sister, c'mon brother are you goin down to bethlehem ...
5.
be merry all, be merry all with holly deck the festive hall prepare the song, the feast, the call to welcome merry christmas and you in velvet all adorned defying winter's tempest's scorn o spare one garment from your store to clothe the poor at christmas and all remember, gentles gay for you who bask in fortune's ray the year is all a holiday the poor have only christmas you who the costly banquet deal to friends who never famine feel o spare one morsel from your meal to feed the poor at christmas and all remember ... so shall each note of mirth appear more sweet to heaven than praise or prayer and angels in their carols there shall bless the poor at christmas bless the poor at christmas
6.
i was drivin through the timber 'round about december, took a wrong turn somewhere straight up north in a bent-frame ford, it was lookin mighty snowy up there saw a jolly old coot in a bright red suit, he was hitchin up a gaggle of deer yellin "pull that sled boys, the kids are in bed and we're leavin kinda late this year" giddyup said santa claus, dasher get your mittens 'cause it's gettin mighty cold outside christmas is a-comin, better get a-runnin son, we got a long, long ride we gotta roll these toys from tampa to boise visit every kid in l.a. london to atlanta, hurry said santa, christmas is a dream away well i called to the stranger, buddy i'm in danger, loster than a bug in the grass polar bears growlin, shaggy wolves howlin and i'm gettin mighty low on gas dontchya be naggin, we can hitch up your wagon and tow you where you're needin to go and off we went at a hundred and ten, over the boulders and snow giddyup said santa claus ... now i was feelin right cheerful when man i got an earful of the merriest music around he was dancin and a-singin to the sleigh bells ringin but lord i shoulda never looked down when i rolled down the winder and peered across my fender we were forty miles up in the air cuttin pirouettes around rockets and jets, headin out for who-knows-where oh please, mr jolly, take me back to raleigh, terra firma's where i belong he just kept on drivin, janglin and jivin, singin all his yuletide songs yeah it was cold and windy but he never missed a chimney stopped at ever little one's den every bundle and bow in a fine bright row and he was back in the saddle again giddyup said santa claus ... well i kinda got to diggin all the zaggin and ziggin and the flyin and the presents and fun and by dawn next day, i was up in the sleigh and we were talkin about christmas to come now time keeps turnin and i keep a-learnin but brother, dontchya know i'm still here santa's on his night run, i'm ridin shotgun, looks like another good year giddyup said santa claus ...
7.
lu lee lu la, thou little tiny child bye bye, lu lee lu lay thou little tiny child bye bye, lu lee lu lay oh sisters two, how may we do for to preserve this day this poor youngling for whom we do sing bye bye lu lee lu lay lu lee lu la ... herod the king, in his raging charged he hath this day his men of might, in his own sight all young children away then woe is me, poor child for thee and ever morn and day for thy parting neither say nor sing bye bye lu lee lu lay lu lee lu la ...
8.
three wise men ridin hard through the cold lost on some big city street with no place warm to go they are lookin for a manger, or a sign in the lights but they're a long way from bethlehem tonight but they heard about a savior and a preacher in the park who will camp with the homeless where they shiver in the dark he'll deliver salvation to the weary and the cold and he'll bring joy, joy, joy to the wanderin soul the cleaning lady sighs as she closes up the gate this job don't quite pay the bills and she's always workin late but all in a moment comes a light from above it's an angel speaking words of joy and love and he tells her of a savior and a preacher in the park who will camp with the homeless under bridges in the dark he'll deliver salvation to the weary and the cold and he'll bring joy, joy, joy to the wanderin soul four in the mornin at the trade winds motel the register reads all full up and the clerk thinks, just as well but out in the tool shed by an old coleman lamp a little family makes its meager camp and the wise men bring presents and the angels gather 'round the cleaning lady slips in through the door without a sound and an old black dog looks on with the rest at the little babe upon his mother's breast and there comes a savior and a preacher in the park and he camps with the homeless where they shiver in the dark he delivers salvation to the weary and the cold and he brings joy, joy, joy to the wanderin soul he brings joy, joy, joy to the wanderin soul

about

Produced by Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer.
Executive Producers: Tracy Grammer & Jim Olsen

A collection of traditional carols and original holiday songs. Proceeds benefit the Dakin Humane Society of western Massachusetts.

©(p) 2008 Tracy Grammer / Elise Fischer.

Reviews:

“AMERICAN NOEL is quintessentially American despite the presence of well-known trad European numbers, now transmatrixed to our shores. I can't picture anyone hearing AMERICAN NOEL not being struck at how singular it is, as listenable any time of the year as during the holidays. Beyond the vocals, Grammer plays a beautiful violin and Carter was very adept on the guitar, making for twice the appeal and quadruple the astonishment." - Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange

"'Go Tell the Fox,' with its Old English title, rings out like an excited announcement of the Savior's birth. And then for something completely different, "Giddyup Said Santa Claus" is a lighthearted cowboy song. Grammer's vocals shine brightest on a few of this collection's traditional tunes - particularly "Ditchling Carol" where she also accompanies herself on violin. The project's best-known track is "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella," even though it is not by any means an overly familiar carol. Therefore, while short on songs, the CD is fairly long on relatively unfamiliar holiday music. "American Noel" is an apt title, as it is Americana music through and through. - Country Standard Time

"...an obvious 'get' for Carter and Grammer music archivists -- those who wish to have and hear everything the pair ever recorded. Fans of the pair will also find this an enjoyable release and quite the needed break from what typically comprises the aural onslaught [at holiday time]....do your friends, relatives and neighbors quite the favor and broaden their holiday music horizon." - Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews

credits

released January 1, 2008

Produced by Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer
Executive Producers: Tracy Grammer & Jim Olsen

Recorded and mixed by the duo in Tracy's Kitchen and by Billy Oskay at Big Red Studio. Additional recording/mixing at Rancho Canard. Mastered by Mark Frethem at Doctor Digital.

Package design by Lehndorff Design. Photography by Jeff Bizzell.

Musicians:
Dave Carter: banjo, guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals
Tracy Grammer: violin, mandolin, percussion, vocals
Arlene Hale: vocals (8)

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Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer Portland, Oregon

American folk duo Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer blend tradition and
innovation into a potent musical elixir. They transcend singer/songwriter stereotypes, delivering evocative, clear-eyed ruminations on death and life, love and ruin, that result in "music of haunting beauty and uncommon intelligence" (The
Oregonian). Carter died in 2002; Grammer curates their legacy and now performs solo.
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