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about

Red and White, by Ben Heneghan, is the first of a suite of four Winter Legends. It brings together a vision of the far North, the Fly Agaric mushroom, some flying reindeer, and our own slightly-more tinselly approach to Yuletide, as the shamans, aloft on their spirit journeys, shower blessings down when they pass overhead on Christmas Eve. Any similarities with the Father Christmas legend are inevitable.

lyrics

Far away in the wilds of the north,
at the ending of the summer,
red and white is the mushroom that grows
where the forest shadows lie:
gathered and dried for the howl of the wolf
at the threshold of the winter,
when the mushroom will feed every dream
and will open every eye.

Here where the streets are filled with lights
and the first faint signs come forth,
just a few short weeks from now,
it’s Christmas time!
Children will set their hearts on snow,
and their hopes toward the north,
where the icy wind will blow,
and Christmas will be white!

When they waken and dance
as the wind starts to swirl and to kindle,
soon the howl of the wolf
raises reindeer aloft into the air.
Down the paths of the sky,
under stars and the shimmer of the sleigh bells,
red and white for the shaman who sings
with the snowfall in his hair.

Here where the shops are thronged with folk
making ready for the feast,
bringing every goodness home
at Christmas time,
loved ones will come from far and wide
through the wind and rain and storm
to a welcome always warm,
to celebrate the year!
Everyone is here,
and Christmas time has come!

If tonight you look outside your window at the sky,
(then you might) see the sleigh pass by,
(and you might) hear the shaman’s voice amid the snow:
“Fly reindeer, fly! Fly!”

Come, all people, and join in the dance
of the magic and the reindeer,
fill your hearts and your towns
with the warmth of a million coloured lights.
Bring your feast to the fire
to be shared in the gladdening of nations,
throw your thanks in the air
for the reindeer to raise them to the heights!

Then winter legends rise again,
when the northern skies grow near,
and the wondrous ones appear,
from hallows of the past,
heralding the day,
showing us the way
that we might heal the world!

credits

from Winter Legends, Christmas Bells, released December 19, 2020
Words and music: Ben Heneghan

Llandaff Cathedral Choral
Penarth Cavatina Singers
Cheltenham Choral Society
Directed by: Alex Thacker

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Llandaff Cathedral Choral Society Cardiff, UK

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