Posted on 12/23/2016 7:28:04 AM PST by JoeProBono
Christmas carols are a favorite part of the holidays and 46 years ago the sentiment was the same. In 1970, country music legend Johnny Cash took part in the tradition of performing holiday songs when he performed his own rendition of the Christmas classic “Little Drummer Boy” on The Johnny Cash Show.
The variety television show was hosted by the “Ring of Fire” singer and ran on air for two seasons. Country stars that were featured on air included Bill Monroe, The Carter Family, Bob Dylan and many more. All episodes were shot at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, which at the time also hosted The Grand Ole Opry.
The particular episode featured in the video above showcases Cash’s signature gravel-filled voice as he shares the famous Christmas tune. He spread holiday cheer on the snowy set that also has a horse drawn carriage and seasonal evergreen trees.
Watch the oldie-but-goody video above to get yourself in the Christmas spirit with one of country music’s finest.
Merry Christmas, y’all.
That’s one show I don’t remember at all.
Some people hate this song, but I have loved it since I was a kid.
By the way, as a side note, if anyone wants to know why a donkey and ox are included in Nativity Sets look at Isaiah 1:3.
I despise that song.
I remember as a Kid watching every last Johnny Cash show on TV with the whole family, remember there were only 7 channels back then.
Katherine Kennicott Davis (June 25, 1892 - April 20, 1980) was a composer, pianist, and author of the famous Christmas tune "The Little Drummer Boy".
She wrote "The Little Drummer Boy" (originally titled "The Carol of the Drum"), in 1941. It became famous when recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale in 1958: the recording sailed to the top of the Billboard charts and Simeone insisted on a writer's royalty for his arrangement of the song. Another famous hymn by Katherine Davis is the Thanksgiving hymn "Let All Things Now Living" which uses the melody of the traditional Welsh folk song The Ash Grove.
It opened the same way every show. "Hello, I'm......Johnny Cash"
“Some people hate this song”
True enough. Wondering what they prefer.
“Wondering what they prefer.”
O Holy Night
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
I know that’s pretty common. Exactly why? Is it too sentimental in some way or is it just the musical arrangement? Singers making the drum sound?
Guilty, I hate this song. School thing, made to practice it over and over and...
“Exactly why? Is it too sentimental in some way or is it just the musical arrangement?”
I guess the mixing of secular with sacred seems icky to me. I love most sacred Christmas music and I love a lot of secular Christmas music. But a drummer boy at the manger? Show me chapter and verse, and I’ll take another look (but please leave out the pa rum pu pu pum).
When “Silent Night” begins, I cringe waiting to hear if the singer slides up on “Heavenly pEEE-EEEEEEce”. Beautiful song, otherwise.
Cash insisted on producing gospel music in spite of the record companies. He was a flawed man, but he never shied from his Christian heritage.
OMG, his rendition of this is AWFUL.
it’s hilariously bad, like a drunk with bad rythm.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.