I chose this song because it mentions the burning the yule log. I chose this version of it because I like the simple beauty of James Taylor with sparse musical accompaniment.

“Deck the Halls” (originally titled “Deck the Hall”), is a traditional Christmas, yuletide, and New Year carol. The melody is Welsh, dating back to the sixteenth century, and belongs to a winter carol, “Nos Galan”, while the English lyrics, written by the Scottish musician Thomas Oliphant, date to 1862.

The English-language lyrics were written by the Scottish musician Thomas Oliphant. They first appeared in 1862, in volume 2 of Welsh Melodies, a set of four volumes authored by John Thomas, including Welsh words by John Jones (Talhaiarn) and English words by Oliphant. The repeated “fa la la” goes back to the earlier Welsh and may originate from medieval ballads.

Fa la la la la, la la la la
Fa la la la la, la la la la

Oh no no

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la, la la la la (fa la la la la, la la la la)
‘Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la (fa la la la la, la la la la)
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la la la, la la la la (fa la la la la, la la la la)
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol
Fa la la la la, la la la la

Fa la la la la, la la la la la la
Fa la la la la, fa la la la
Fa la la la la, la la la la la la
Fa la la la la, fa la la la

See the blazing yule before us
Fa la la la la, la la la la (fa la la la la, la la la la)
Strike the harp and join the chorus
(Fa la la la la, la la la, fa la la la la, la la la)
Follow me in merry measure
Fa la la la la, la la la la, fa la la la la, la la la la
While I tell of Yuletide treasure
(Fa la la la la, la la la la)

Fa la la la la, la la la la la la
Fa la la la la, fa la la la
Fa la la la la, la la la la la la
Fa la la la la, fa la la la

Fast away, the old year passes
Fa la la la la, la la la la (fa la la la la, la la la la)
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses
(Fa la la, la la la, la la la, la la la, fa la la, la la la, la la la la)
Sing we joyous all together, oh
Heedless of the wind and weather
Fa la la la la, la la la la (hey)

Fa la la la la, la la la la la la (oh)
Fa la la la la, fa la la la (oh)
Oh oh fa la la la la, la la la la la la
Fa la la la la, fa la la la

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
‘Tis the season to be jolly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Fa la la la la, la la la la

La la la la, la la la la