It also reflects a longing for those Christmas memories of past years. Everyone has them… So I think that it does very well as a Christmas song.

It’s also funny that “Silver Bells” was mentioned. That was on Gold City’s “Home For the Holidays” (1998).

I agree that these songs aren’t considered Christian/Gospel Christmas songs. But they are Christmas songs none-the-less. And they do not damage the CHRISTmas image (however, “Santa Baby” does!).

I am also aware that several of the hymns we hold near and dear to us were derived from drinking songs…and part of our tradition as believers is that we have appropriated many of our songs and even our holidays from decidedly secular traditions.

I don’t know what new point you’re trying to make here…my initial post was to simply offer a response to what Kyle posted. A subesequent poster issued a challenge to me, so I simply reinforced the original point I tried to make.

If you honestly feel this line of discussion is beneficial and of interest to your readers, then I’ll do my best to be a helpful participant in it. But honestly, I feel we are straying too far from the original purpose of your post, and out of concern for you, your excellent blog, and your readers, I feel I should take a bow from this discussion and exit “stage right”.

Out of curiosity, do you count the “Hallelujah Chorus,” “I Know that My Redeemer Liveth,” and the rest of the Messiah as Christian songs, since they were originally composed for the stage and not the church?

I just tried to give you a context as far as the writing of that song is concerned. For a better answer to your question, I might suggest checking out the play.:-)

And given it’s origins, I think it’s fair to say that it’s not really a gospel song(not that there’s anything wrong with that per se).

What’s it really about?

But the fact is, “Great Day” was the title song of a Broadway play written in 1929 by famous Tin Pan Alley songwriter Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu, and Vincent Youmans. Peggy Lee did a famous version of it in subsequent years, and Frank Sinatra recorded it as well.

It’s a good song, and it’s lyrics are most appropriate for a gospel quartet…so it’s not surprising a group with wide television exposure such as the Cathedrals(who were featured still on the Rex Humbard shows when they recorded it)would choose to record it. At that time, lots of gospel groups did songs like that. Besides the Cathedrals, the Blackwoods also recorded “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” and “May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You”, and the Blue Ridge Quartet recorded Anthony Newley’s Broadway song, “Gonna Build A Mountain”.

It’s another tradition gospel singers held to for a time.

“Gabriel will warn you
Some early morn you
Will hear his horn

It’s not very far away
Lift up your heads and say
It’s gonna be a great day.”

And nowhere in that song is the Christmas story told, or even hinted at. Again, the song is a pop classic(for a long time, Bing Crosby’s version of it was the biggest selling recording of all time), and has proven its’ durability and worth over time, but it’s no more a true Christmas song than “Silver Bells” or the aforementioned “Winter Wonderland”.