JUST ONCE A YEAR

Just Once a Year

"Just Once a Year" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville.

ABOUT 'JUST ONCE A YEAR'

Music: Mack Wilberg
Text: David Warner

Wilberg’s processional, “Just Once a Year,” begins simply with a solo violin playing a folkish jig that, and although it sounds authentically “old,” was written especially for the concert. With lyrics from Wilberg’s long-time collaborator David Warner, this dance tune gradually gathers strength into a bustling production number, a festive folk dance in which the concert’s guest artists, Sutton Foster and Hugh Bonneville, both participate. The whimsical, mordantly humorous lyrics happily remind us to heal strained relationships, forgive past wrongs, and make opportunities at Christmas to extend gestures of joy and friendship to others.

LISTEN TO THE FULL SONG

LYRICS

Just once a year, and ev’ry year
We try to find a gift –
A turtle dove, a golden ring –
To mend that little rift.
But when the pretty bows are tossed
And wrapping paper flies,
It’s not the gift that melts our hearts,
But how the giver tries!

Oh Christmas! Christmas!
You have a wond’rous pow’r
To call our better angels forth
Until our demons cow’r.
Yes, Christmas! Christmas!
Though carols fade away,
Your spirit makes the whole of life
A merry old Christmas day!

Just once a year, and ev’ry year
Our door is open wide
To all of you who double-crossed
And cheated us, and lied-
Who pinched our candy, skimmed our cream.
Yet lacking any gall,
Sing “fa-la-la” so cheerfully
We must forgive it all!

Just once a year, and ev’ry year
We tell this tired tale:
That Father Christmas gives the gifts
We bought on discount sale!
Yet somehow as we spin this yarn
We cannot disbelieve:
There’s One who giveth all good gifts
To all who will believe.

CONT...

Just once a year, and ev’ry year
Abandoning all sense
We dance about like little ones
Who can’t tell pounds from pence.
Who heedless of all pettiness,
Embracing friend and foe,
We sing and laugh and live as one,
Beneath the mistletoe!

Just once a year and ev’ry year
Your wond’rous, wond’rous pow’r
Does truly call our better angels forth
Until our demons cow’r.
So we sing Christmas, Christmas
All year through,
Though carols fade away,
Because your spirit makes the whole of life
A happy dance devoid of strife!
A feast of love!
A song of peace!
A gift of hope’s bright ray!
Your spirit makes the whole of life
A merry old Christmas day!

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