BUON NATALE, BABY!

It’s Christmastime today at
Song Lyric Sunday,
my favorite time of the year!

One of the greatest personal moments in music is when I hear an instrumental and the combined qualities of that piece get my imagination going to the point where I see an entire story unfolding. Surely it happens quite often with classical pieces since most are instrumental.

So where am I going with this? Well, in his post today, Jim asked what our favorite Christmas song is and mine happens to be an instrumental. From the first notes to the last, as the excitement builds, this song is, for me, the epitome of Christmas. Yes, there is a version with lyrics and they’re pretty good ones, but I prefer the original instrumental. Can you guess which song I’m talking about? Hang on a bit longer, please, and I’ll play it at the end of this post. First, I want to talk about something else.

Today in Song Lyric Sunday, the suggestion for “Anything Christmas” comes from our friend Clive at Take It Easy.

Since I’m The Sicilian Storyteller it should be obvious that I am extremely proud of my heritage. I want to say “Mille grazie, Jim & Clive” for the opportunity to play some Italian Christmas songs and to wish our readers “Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo a tutti!”

My first song for today’s “Anything Christmas” prompt is a fun Italian/American favorite Christmas song.

“Dominick the Donkey” is a novelty Christmas song recorded by Lou Monte in 1960 (written by Ray Allen, Sam Saltzberg and Wandra Merrell). This beloved Italian Christmas song describes a donkey who helps Santa Claus bring presents (made in Brooklyn, of all places!) to children in Italy “because the reindeer cannot climb”  Italy’s hills. The song was listed at No. 14 in Billboard’s “Bubbling Under the Hot 100” list in December 1960.

Lou Monte was an Italian-American singer best known for a number of best-selling, Italian themed novelty records which he recorded for both RCA Records and Reprise Records in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He also recorded on Roulette Records, Jubilee Records, Regalia Records, Musicor Records, Laurie Records, and AFE Records.

Let’s have a little fun with Lou Monte and “Dominick The Donkey”.

LYRICS

Hey! Chingedy,ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

It's Dominick the donkey.

Chingedy ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

The Italian Christmas donkey.

(la la la-la la-la la la la la)

(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Santa's got a little friend,

His name is Dominick.

The cutest little donkey,

You never see him kick.

When Santa visits his paisons,

With Dominick he'll be.

Because the reindeer cannot,

Climb the hills of Italy.

Hey! Chingedy ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

It's Dominick the donkey.

Chingedy ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

The Italian Christmas donkey.

(la la la-la la-la la la la la)

(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Jingle bells around his feet,

And presents on the sled.

Hey! Look at the mayor's derby,

On top of Dominick's head.

A pair of shoes for Louie,

And a dress for Josephine.

The labels on the inside says,

They're made in Brooklyn.

Hey! Chingedy ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

It's Dominick the donkey.

Chingedy ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

The Italian Christmas donkey.

(la la la-la la-la la la la la)

(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Children sing, and clap their hands,

And Dominick starts to dance.

They talk Italian to him,

And he even understands.

Cumpare sing,

Cumpare su,

And dance 'sta tarantel.

When jusamagora comes to town,

And brings do ciuccianello.

Hey! Chingedy ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

It's Dominick the donkey.

Chingedy ching,

(hee-haw, hee-haw)

The Italian Christmas donkey.

(la la la-la la-la la la la la)

(la la la-la la-la la-ee-oh-da)

Hey! Dominic

Written by: Ray Allen, Sam Saltzberg, Wandra Merrell
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

Then, while surfing the net, I found this. There wasn’t much info, just what the composer/singer offered up. Hope you enjoy this as much as I did, even if you’re not Italian …. AYYY!

“The Other Italian Christmas Song” by Eddie Napilillo

🌟   🎄   🌟   🎄   🌟   🎄   🌟   🎄   🌟  

From the ridiculous to the sublime …. my next song for you today is a traditional Italian Christmas carol called “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle” (“From Starry Skies Thou Comest”) or, more colloquially, “You come down from the stars”, written in 1732.

The melody and original lyrics for the hymn were written by Alphonsus Liguori, a prominent Neapolitan priest and scholastic philosopher (later canonized) who founded the Redemptorist missionary order. While staying at Convent of the Consolation, one of his order’s houses in the province of Foggia in southeastern Italy, he wrote the beautiful Christmas song, “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle”. Over the years, this song became the most popular Christmas carol in Italy.

Many artists have recorded this carol and they are all lovely. In my opinion no one sings it more sweetly than the great Andrea Bocelli; it is his version I have chosen for you today. If you would like to follow along, I have provided the lyrics in both Italian and English.

Here is Andrea Bocelli with “Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle”

LYRICS

You come down from the stars, O King of heaven
Tu scendi dalle stelle, o Re del cielo

And come to a cave in the cold and frost
E vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo

And come to a cave in the cold and frost
E vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo

O my divine Child, I see you here trembling
O Bambino mio divino, io ti vedo qui a tremar

O blessed God
O Dio beato

Ah, how much it cost you to have loved us
Ah, quanto ti costò l’averci amato

Ah, how much it cost you to have loved us
Ah, quanto ti costò l’averci amato

To you, who are the Creator of the world
A te, che sei del mondo il Creatore

Clothes and fire are missing, oh my Lord
Mancano panni e fuoco, o mio Signore

Clothes and fire are missing, oh my Lord
Mancano panni e fuoco, o mio Signore

Dear chosen little child, how much this poverty
Caro eletto pargoletto quanto questa povertà

The more I fall in love
Più m’innamora

Since he made you poor love again
Giacché ti fece amor povero ancora

Since he made you poor love again
Giacché ti fece amor povero ancora

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alfonso Maria De Liguori
Tu scendi dalle stelle lyrics © Tratore

Oh, did you think I forgot about my favorite Christmas song? Never! Did you guess what that song is? Well, let’s play it now and we’ll see if you were right. Here is the incredible Boston Pops Orchestra with its awesome rendition of “Sleigh Ride”.

Seventy-five years after Leroy Anderson created “Sleigh Ride” (1948), the song is still ranked as one of the 10 most popular pieces of Christmas music worldwide!

Thanks to Jim at Song Lyrics Sunday for always coming up with great prompts and to Clive for his suggestion today of “Anything Christmas”. Merry Christmas to all; may your day be joyous and wonderful and filled with terrific music!

Jingling Ring Tingle Tingling

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