This was made popular by Peter, Paul and Mary, but was written by Paul Stookey. This is one of the most beautifully sung versions of the song I've heard! :-)
@TheGeantrai I mean, Paul Stookey is Paul of "Peter Paul and Mary". He wrote it as an exercise in ascending and descending chord progressions, and Peter Yarrow heard it, liked it, and came in from the other room and started combining his ideas with it until it became what we know and love now. :-)
@beach1963 Paul Stookey and Peter Yarrow wrote a last verse having to do with Christmas, tacked it onto a traditional song, copyrighted the whole thing and collected the royalties. Ooops. Not really their song. It comes from pre Christian Celtic England. Not saying it's not a good song, but let's not give Stookey and Yarrow too much credit here.
Back in the old days bakers would use up as much of the dough as they could when baking an item. After using it for some long it became hard and unusable. All the dough was thrown into a barrel which at the end of the day the baker would collect (hence: If the barrels are not empty, we hope you will be kind). They would throw all the dough together and bake a soal cake. The needy kids would come around to each bakery asking " please good missus a soal cake" and were given what was in the barrels
A soul cake is a little cake similar to a biscuit whose origins date back to the medieval ages. It typically had a cross carved into it before baking and when eaten represented a soul passing out of purgatory. People went door to door around Nov 2 singing songs of praise or hymns and were given soul cakes.
Gotta love those long and short o's. I could listen to this at least all day.
musicandyceramist 1 month ago
This song has the feel of a Jethro Tull song. : )
vanni9283 10 months ago
The last two lines of the third verse were part of my sister's favorite rhyme a long time ago:
"It's Christmastime, and the goose is getting fat
Please put a penny in the old man's hat;
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do,
If you haven't got a ha'penny, then God bless you!"
612Matthew 11 months ago
This was made popular by Peter, Paul and Mary, but was written by Paul Stookey. This is one of the most beautifully sung versions of the song I've heard! :-)
beach1963 1 year ago
@beach1963 Ah, thanks :) I'l correct it.
TheGeantrai 1 year ago
@TheGeantrai I mean, Paul Stookey is Paul of "Peter Paul and Mary". He wrote it as an exercise in ascending and descending chord progressions, and Peter Yarrow heard it, liked it, and came in from the other room and started combining his ideas with it until it became what we know and love now. :-)
beach1963 1 year ago
@beach1963 Paul Stookey and Peter Yarrow wrote a last verse having to do with Christmas, tacked it onto a traditional song, copyrighted the whole thing and collected the royalties. Ooops. Not really their song. It comes from pre Christian Celtic England. Not saying it's not a good song, but let's not give Stookey and Yarrow too much credit here.
tqnohe 2 months ago
@tqnohe Thank you! :-) You're so right, it's a good song, and I've always liked it from the first time I heard it.
beach1963 2 months ago
Best Christmas song I think I've ever heard.
Eaglefly124 1 year ago
Back in the old days bakers would use up as much of the dough as they could when baking an item. After using it for some long it became hard and unusable. All the dough was thrown into a barrel which at the end of the day the baker would collect (hence: If the barrels are not empty, we hope you will be kind). They would throw all the dough together and bake a soal cake. The needy kids would come around to each bakery asking " please good missus a soal cake" and were given what was in the barrels
TheCommentWizard 1 year ago 3
@TheCommentWizard
tqnohe 2 months ago
Orla is amazing,but seriously!
Your voice is cute. :-)
aranyos9 1 year ago 3
I love this song, it has now become my favorite Cristmas song.
NurseDougable 1 year ago
A soul cake is a little cake similar to a biscuit whose origins date back to the medieval ages. It typically had a cross carved into it before baking and when eaten represented a soul passing out of purgatory. People went door to door around Nov 2 singing songs of praise or hymns and were given soul cakes.
Oceanharmony5 1 year ago
LOVE THIS SONG!!! But what's a soal cake?
loudrgfan 1 year ago
Love this song! :D
EmeraldEyes231 1 year ago