December 1: I remember the night… “Tennesee Waltz” by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King and sung here by Patti Page. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 2: Small miracles can each day be found… “Hanukkah” written by me and sung by the Fairfield County Children’s Choir Concert Choir under the direction of Jacqueline Sugrue. Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah; Chag Sameach!
December 3: I have done all that I could to see the evil and the good without hiding… “Doctor, My Eyes” by Jackson Browne. Happy Birthday to the wonderful, beautiful and incredibly good Dr. Kim Dean; we love you. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 4: Fly in the sugarbowl, shoo fly, shoo… “Skip To My Lou” sung by Lead Belly. LYRICS & SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY
December 5: I pray that these things never end… “Eli, Eli” a poem by Hannah Szenes sung by Sophie Milman. Here’s another beautiful version by Ofir Ben Shitrit. Thanks to Camp Pembroke and Hadassah Blocker for teaching me this gorgeous song back in the 1970’s; I’m so grateful to my Mom and Auntie Dee for inspiring me to attend and my Dad for agreeing! LYRICS & SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY
December 6: If you want to be happy in a million ways… “Home For The Holidays” written by Al Stillman & Robert Allen and sung by Perry Como. (Come sing this with us at Barnes & Noble in Westport tonight; we’re doing a Pajama Sing-Along to raise money for the GFS PTA. Festivities kick off at 6:30 with a book read by our principal, Kevin Cazzetta, and then the sing-along starts at 7:00. Wear your PJs!) LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 7: Done looking for the critics ’cause they’re everywhere… “Perfect” by Pink. Happy Birthday to our beautiful, young and perfect friend, Jenny Roberts McKenna. LYRICS SPOTIFY
December 8: “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”, the South African National Anthem sung by Nianell (thanks to Lisa Brailey for the suggestion!). You can sing along to this version. LYRICS & SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY
December 9: Make mistakes, but use them well… “Perfect Children” written and performed by me (with Peter Propp on lead guitar!) . SPOTIFY
December 10th: Don’t you wish it could go on forever… “Surrey With A Fringe On Top” from Oklahoma!. This song was written by Rodgers & Hammerstein and is sung in the movie version by Gordon MacRae, Shirley Jones and Charlotte Greenwood. For the best parents in the world; I love you. (Here’s a Karaoke Version of the song.) LYRICS SPOTIFY
December 11: Where is the harmony?… (What’s So Funny ’bout) Peace, Love & Understanding written by Nick Lowe and performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions in honor of our good friends Gene Elder (HB today) and Jim Rossman (HB tomorrow), Peter’s brothers from another mother. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 12: Happy Birthday to 9-year-old Sadie, who requested this song when I asked her for a favorite: “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer”by Elmo & Patsy (and if you want to sing along, here’s a “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” lyric video). LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 13: We all have that moment when our head hangs low… “The Light That Never Fails” sung by Andra Day and written by Lauren Christy, Adrian Gurvitz and Andra Day. Thanks to my wonderful colleague, Chris Chieppo (Mr. Chip, to you) for the suggestion; hope you didn’t mind the wait. 🙂 LYRICS SPOTIFY
December 14: What a lady… “Oh, What A Night” by Bob Gaudio & Judy Parker and performed by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. I think of my Kindergarten best friend every time I hear this one. So glad she was born in December 1963! Love you, Cyn! xo Sas LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 15: Now you see the light, stand up for your rights… “Get Up, Stand Up” written by Bob Marley and performed by Playing For Change. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 16: It sounds good to me… “Cowboy Take Me Away” written by Martie Maguire and Marcus Hummon and sung by The Dixie Chicks. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 17: Bring a nickel; tap your feet… “Down on the Corner” by John Fogerty & Creedence Clearwater Revival LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 18: All know there’s more than the setting sun… “Snow Day” by Matt Pond PA. Happy Belated Birthday to my wonderful colleague, Dan Seek; LYRICS SPOTIFY (P.S. I wish I could have given you an actual Snow Day for your birthday but maybe this is the next best thing? Here’s a bonus song by Matt Pond PA: “In Winter”. Enjoy.)
December 19: She ain’t what she used to be… “The Old Gray Mare”. LYRICS & SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY
December 20: Q: Who’s the most popular personality?? A: The birthday girls, Ruthie Sherman & Anne Leonard Hardy! I LOVE YOU BOTH! “Everybody Loves A Lover” with lyrics by Richard Adler and music by Robert Allen, and sung by Doris Day. SONG HISTORY LYRICS SPOTIFY
December 21: Life will find a way… “Winter Song” by Ingrid Michaelson & Sara Bareilles. LYRICS SONG HISTORY SPOTIFY
December 22: Sweet dreams & flying machines in pieces on the ground… “Fire & Rain” by James Taylor. SONG HISTORY & LYRICS SPOTIFY
December 23: Magic’s brought this tale to a very happy ending… “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 24: “Time After Time” written by Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman and covered by Megan Davies, Jaclyn Davies & Boyce Avenue. Happy Birthday to Traci Martin Provost and my mom’s Aunt Marcia Goldberg and extra love to one of my favorite harmony makers, Betsy Morris Rosen. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 25: Any time, any place, any gender, any race, find the strength to stand up tall and help bring “KINDNESS” to us all… (it’s all I want for Christmas). SPOTIFY
December 26: We could reignite, like fireflies… “Boxing Day” by Mark Hoppus, Tom Delonge, Travis Barker and Blink 182. LYRICS GUITAR CHORDS SPOTIFY
December 27: Oh, my darling, oh, my darling, oh, my darling… “Clementine” a traditional folk song that is “usually credited to Percy Montrose (1884), although it is sometimes credited to Barker Bradford“. This version is included on one of my favorite sing-along websites: Listen & Read Along SPOTIFY
December 28: With a burning love inside… “Working My Way Back To You” written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell and performed by The Spinners. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 29: Did you ever go clear? “Famous Blue Raincoat” by Leonard Cohen. Another favorite version of this song is sung by Jennifer Warnes; enjoy. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 30: Just one look at you and I know it’s gonna be a… “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers and Skip Scarborough. Happy Birthday (and thanks for the song suggestion) to my lovely friend Sandy Sullivan! LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
December 31: We drank a toast to now….“Same Auld Lang Syne” by Dan Fogelberg. Happy Birthday to my beautiful niece, Ariana Sherman. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY Thanks to all who subscribed, shared and sang along in 2018. The responses have been considered and (trumpets please), I WILL continue to post a Song Of The Day in 2019. I hope that listening to music and singing along makes you as happy as it makes me; may 2019 bring you joy and peace.