Holidays: Christmas Presents 1

A "mondegreen" is a misheard song lyric (such as "The girl with colitis goes by" instead of "the girl with kaleidoscope eyes" in the Beatles' song "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds." For this activity, you will need recordings of "The Christmas Song" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (or else sing these tunes for the students yourself!) Basically, you give the students the misheard version of the song, and they listen, trying to find out a) what's wrong with the song b) what the correct words should be. Song One: Chipmunks roasting on an open fire Check for snipping at your nose You'll tell Carol, "Be a skunk I require" And folks dressed up like Eskimos Everybody knows a turkey, Handsome Mr. Soul Helps to make the season bright Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow Will find it hard to sleep tonight. (real words) Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yuletide carols being sung by a choir And folks dressed up like eskimos Everybody knows, a turkey and some mistletoe Help to make the season bright Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow Will find it hard to sleep tonight. Song Two: Hark there Harold's angel sings Glory to the newborn thing! Pees on Earth, and then he smiles Godamn sinners reckon so. Joyful oily nations rise Join the triumph of disguise With the jellied toast proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem Hark there Harold's angel sings Glory to the newborn thing! (real lyrics) Hark the Herald angels sing Glory to the newborn king Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled Joyful all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With angelic host proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem Hark, the Herald angels sing Glory to the newborn king! For more misheard song lyrics, check out the books by Gavin Edwards. This idea came from his book entitled "Deck the Halls with Buddy Holly." --Karin Abell, Advanced ESL Instructor Durham Technical Community College Durham, NC