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• Mrs Lane's Holiday Cheer

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  AcousticWarm female vocalsChristmas

  End of term Christmas present for Mrs Lane, our daughter's Year 2 teacher, from the whole class. She's spent a term glueing, glittering and gently herding thirty small people, learned every name by day two, and does register in a different accent on Fridays. Thirty families chipped in. She can only drink so many mugs of 'Best Teacher'. This year: a song.

  Read the words

  Verse 1

  September came with thirty little strangers,Coats on backwards, shoelaces undone,By day two you knew every single name there,Called each one like they'd already won.

  Verse 2

  Glue on the tables, glitter in the carpet,Tinsel stuck to jumpers, stars in your hair,You herded thirty small and shining comets,Somehow got them all to sit still on a chair.

  Chorus

  Oh, Mrs Lane, Mrs Lane,Thank you for the patience, thank you for the calm,For every gentle "well done" and every quiet balm,Thirty families raise a glass to say,You made this term feel like Christmas Day.

  Verse 3

  On Fridays you'd take the register singing,A different voice for every roll you'd call,Posh one week, then pirate the next week,You made the mornings magic for them all.

  Chorus

  Oh, Mrs Lane, Mrs Lane,Thank you for the patience, thank you for the calm,For every gentle "well done" and every quiet balm,Thirty families raise a glass to say,You made this term feel like Christmas Day.

  Bridge

  We know you've mugs enough to fill a shelf,"Best Teacher" printed on every one,So this year we wrote it out ourselves,A song to say what all of them have done.

  Final Chorus

  Oh, Mrs Lane, Mrs Lane,From thirty little voices, one thank you the same,For the glue and the glitter, the gentle refrain,Merry Christmas, Mrs Lane.

• Hartley's Holiday

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  Acoustic popWarm family vocalsChristmas

  We're the Hartleys: two parents, three kids, one grandma upstairs, and this year we agreed no presents over a tenner, so I'm cheating with a song about us. The Boxing Day walk nobody wants and everyone loves, the annual Monopoly ban, Grandma's sherry measures, Dad's gravy pride. Our ordinary, brilliant Christmas, in a song.

  Read the words

  Verse 1

  Two parents, three kids and a house full of noiseGrandma's up the stairs with her Christmas playlist voiceWe said no presents this year, over a tenner's the ruleSo here's a song instead, cheaper and truer

  Verse 2

  Dad's basting that gravy like it's a national testGuarding the pan like it's the only one he'll ever make best"Just needs one more stir" he says, every single yearWe nod and we let him, we let him, my dear

  Chorus

  This is us, the ordinary, brilliant kindSherry measures from Grandma that'll blow your mindMonopoly's banned again before it can start a warThat's the Hartleys, that's Christmas, that's what we're for

  Verse 3

  Boxing Day walk, nobody wants to goBoots by the door, moaning out in the coldBut we always end up laughing halfway round the greenBest part of the whole day, best thing we've seen

  Chorus

  This is us, the ordinary, brilliant kindSherry measures from Grandma that'll blow your mindMonopoly's banned again before it can start a warThat's the Hartleys, that's Christmas, that's what we're for

  Bridge

  No fortunes wrapped in paper, no bows on topJust Grandma's laugh and Dad's proud gravy potJust cold hands warming after that same old walkJust us, all together, that's worth more than gold

  Chorus

  This is us, the ordinary, brilliant kindSherry measures from Grandma that'll blow your mindMonopoly's banned again before it can start a warThat's the Hartleys, that's Christmas, that's what we're for

  Outro

  So here's to the Hartleys, whatever this year bringsGrandma's sherry, Dad's gravy, all our ordinary thingsNo tenner could buy this, no bow could tie it rightMerry Christmas, Hartleys, sleep tight

• Midnight Magic

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  PopPlayful female vocalsChristmas bedtime

  We want a Christmas Eve song for our kids Ivy, six, and Noah, four. It's for the last hour before bed: new pyjamas, carrot out for Rudolph, Noah asking if Santa can see him 'right now' (unsettling), Ivy patrolling the fireplace. Something magical with their names in it that ends with two children actually going to sleep. A big ask. We know.

  Read the words

  Verse 1

  New pyjamas, fresh and snug and tight,Ivy counting stars outside tonight,Noah's got a carrot in his hand,"This one's the crunchiest in the land."

  Pre-Chorus

  The clock's so slow, the tree lights glow,Two little hearts don't want to go,But Mummy says, and Daddy too,Santa's got a job to do.

  Chorus

  So close your eyes, Ivy and Noah,Let the sleepy magic softly grow,Rudolph's coming, snow is falling slow,Close your eyes, it's time to go.

  Verse 2

  Ivy's on patrol beside the grate,"I'll guard the fireplace, I'll stay up late,"Noah whispers, "Can he see me now?"Mum says, "Only if you're sleeping, somehow."

  Pre-Chorus

  The clock's so slow, the tree lights glow,Two little hearts don't want to go,But Mummy says, and Daddy too,Santa's got a job to do.

  Chorus

  So close your eyes, Ivy and Noah,Let the sleepy magic softly grow,Rudolph's coming, snow is falling slow,Close your eyes, it's time to go.

  Bridge

  The carrot's out, the milk is poured,The stockings hang, the hush is soft,Somewhere high above the town,A sleigh bell jingles, drifting down.

  Outro

  Hush now, Ivy, hush now, Noah,Dream of reindeer, dream of snow,Morning's coming soft and slow,Sleep now, darlings, off you go.Ivy's still... and Noah's still...Both asleep upon the hill of dreams.

Hear each one with its full story: Christmas song for teacher · Christmas gift song · Christmas Eve song for children