Think Before You Sing

  I want to talk about the song The First Noel, the great Christmas anthem that we all sing without stopping to think about what the word noel means and if we do know what it means we do not stop to teach it to others. Here is the Definition according to google: Christmas, especially as a refrain in carols and on Christmas cards. So the chorus of the first Noel has the exact same meaning as: Christmas, Christmas, Christmas, Christmas Born is the King of Israel There are not necessarily any issues with that statement but I think we often think there is more meaning when we use the work noel instead and that is simply on the case. These issues do not stop there, let’s take a peek at the first verse. The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep. So we have some things to look at briefly. First again is the use of Noel. Looking at the firs...

I personally believe you should think about anything before you do it. If you find yourself doing it simply because someone told you to then that is not good enough. I also believe that you shouldn’t ask anyone to do anything without explaining why to them. You are free to do what you want but let’s look at some reason that singing should not be simply repeating other things. First, let’s define singing. Dictionary.com gives us the definition as a verb of to utter words or sounds in succession with musical modulations of the voice; vocalize melodically. I personally like the definition given in The Music Man where singing is simply defined as sustained talking. Are you held responsible for the words you say? Have you ever said something and then regretted it? If singing is simply talking then the same concepts apply. Words have meaning and consequences. And it is not uncommon to hear someone tell someone else to think before you speak, so why is singing any different? ...