Christmas has gotten away from its roots: the day is supposed to commemorate the infant Jesus finishing his fall term of college and coming back to Bethlehem to celebrate the holidays. These carols attempt to bring back that spirit. Like a nativity play, these attempt to tell the story of December on campus.

We begin with some joys that students have felt throughout the semester:

Bagel bagel bagel

I went to absolu’

And when the line is moving

Oh bagel I will chew

Some students reminisce about lost connections from their classes:

Prezbo, tell me if you’re really there

Don’t make me fall in love again

If you won’t be here next year

Prezbo, tell me if you really care

‘Cause I can’t give it all away 

If you won’t be here next year

Feeling free speech all around

And I’m trying to play it cool

But it’s hard to focus when I see you walkin’ ‘cross the room

I should read New York Times v Sullivan

But I won’t get in the mood

I’m avoiding every cold call until I know

It’s true love that you think of

So next semester

I’m not all alone, (sorry Jean!)

(chorus)

Oh, I wanna have him beside me like oh-oh-oh

On the 25th by the fire place, oh-oh-oh

But I don’t want a new broken heart

This year I’ve got to be smart

Ooh, baby

(Prezbo, tell me, Prezbo, tell me)

If you will be, if you will be

(Prezbo, tell me, Prezbo, tell me)

Oh-oh-oh

(chorus x2)*

[Ed. Note: Prezbo will not, in fact, be with us next year]

There were students abiding on the lawns, writing their essays by night:

God rest ye merry young freshmen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember all of our finals

Are done by Christmas day

To save us all from calculus

And seminar’s essay

Oh tidings of wonder and joy, wonder and joy

Oh tidings of wonder and joy

In Morningside, in Manhattan

This blessed college lies

Between the street of Broadway

And Amsterdam lengthwise

Scene of loving memories 

And also many cries

Oh tidings of wonder and joy, wonder and joy

Oh tidings of wonder and joy

Now to Roaree sing praises

All you within this place

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace

This holy tide of finals seas’n

All other doth deface

Oh tidings of wonder and joy, wonder and joy

Oh tidings of wonder and joy

Classes are not finished once the work is submitted, as course evals still must be written:

Oh fall CC, 

Oh fall CC

How hit or miss your readings

Oh fall CC, 

Oh fall CC

How hit or miss your readings

We read the ethics Nicomachean

And other dude’s thoughts also thrown in 

(chorus)

While I loved city of god

Other times, my head would nod

(chorus)

Students, at last, can return home to their families:

Screeching tracks screeching tracks, screeching all the way,

Oh what fun it is to ride on the crowded MTA, hey!

Inching down the line

On a very broken train

Past 96 we go,

Transferring on the way!

Now we are express

Hope I make my bus

What fun it is to ride and pray

I’ll be back home tonight!

(chorus)

A merry bwinter break to all, and to all a good night!

Snowy college walk via Bwog Archives