December 11, 2025 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, December 11.
Our two-week Christmas series continues today. Next week we’ll focus on stories behind some of our favorite carols. Most of these treasured songs are over a century old, some much older than that. But this morning we look at a modern Christmas carol, written in the 20th century.
Does your family have any holiday traditions - things you do together every December? I imagine you do. Alfred Burt’s father was a minister, and every Christmas he would write a new carol and send it out to friends and family on the back of their Christmas cards. Alfred was a gifted composer, and after his dad died in the late 1940’s, he continued this unique family tradition.
These new carols began to attract attention in the music community, and in 1954 they were made into a record album and arranged for choir. Just a few months later, at the young age of 33, Albert Burt died. The Burt Carols, as they are now known, are a staple of college, high school, and church choirs. I’ve had the blessing of singing and directing them many times over my career.
My favorite Burt Carol is called “Some People See Him”. It’s been recorded countless times through the years. One of them is a very sweet rendition by James Taylor. Google it this Christmas season - you’ll be blessed. Here are the sweet lyrics.
Some children see Him lily white, the baby Jesus born this night
Some children see Him lily white, with tresses soft and fair
Some children see Him bronzed and brown, the Lord of heaven to earth come down
Some children see Him bronzed and brown, with dark and heavy hair
Some children see Him almond-eyed, this Savior whom we kneel beside
Some children see Him almond-eyed, with skin of golden hue
Some children see Him dark as they, sweet Mary’s Son to whom we pray
Some children see Him dark as they, and oh they love Him, too
The children in each different place will see the baby Jesus’ face
Like theirs, but bright with heavenly grace and filled with holy light
Oh lay aside each earthly thing, and with thy heart as offering
Come worship now the infant King, ‘tis love that’s born tonight!
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
