The Spirit of Christmas in Christmas Songs (Part 3/3)
This is the third and final song in my list of Christmas songs that show the spirit of Christmas. “Silver and Gold” is from the animated movie, “Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer”. Burt Ives is the voice of the snowman, who starts out by telling us that Yukon Cornelius only thinks about silver and gold. He is a prospector who is looking for gold and silver. He wants to be rich. Later, he prefers silver over gold. The snowman sings this song to let us know what silver and gold is really used for. Ultimately, this song teaches children to worship the tree.
| Original Song | My Commentary |
| Silver and gold, silver and gold Ev’ryone wishes for silver and gold How do you measure its worth? Just by the pleasure it gives here on earth |
Everyone desires silver and gold. It gives us pleasure. This is how we value silver and gold by the pleasure they give us on earth. Earth is specified because we can’t take it with us when we die. |
| Silver and gold, silver and gold Mean so much more when I see Silver and gold decorations On ev’ry Christmas tree |
That which gives us pleasure we now put it on the tree, which also gives us pleasure. Now this means so much to us – to give our valuables to a tree that we worship, to honor our god with silver and gold. |
| Spoken What’s a Christmas tree without tinsel And pretty silver and gold decorations? Can’t really call it a Christmas tree now Can you? And think of all the fun and joy That would be lost on Christmas morning If all the young folks didn’t get to see That sparkling happy tree. |
The snowman speaks these words. If the tree isn’t decorated with silver and gold then the children will be sad on Christmas morning. Their happiness in wrapped up in a decorated tree. God tells us not to be like everyone else who decorates the tree with silver and gold. See Jeremiah 10:1-5 below in the Scripture reference. |
| Silver and gold, silver and gold Mean so much more when I see Silver and gold decorations On ev’ry Christmas tree. |
Silver and gold matters more when they are on a tree. |
The Original Lyrics
The following is the original lyrics to “Silver and Gold.” As you can see he mentions a version of the nativity scene, while making sure he never mentions Jesus Christ. Then he continues to say that silver and gold is what fills our lives with feeling.
Silver and Gold – Burt Ives
Silver, silver and gold
Silver and gold, silver and gold
Ev’ryone wishes for silver and gold
How do you measure its worth?
Just by the pleasure it gives here on earth.
Silver and gold, silver and gold
Mean so much more when I see
Silver and gold decorations
On ev’ry Christmas tree.
Silver, silver and gold
Silver, silver and gold
Silver and gold
Silver and gold
Silver and gold
Wise men brought gifts to the mange I’m told
Mary was humble to see
Shepherds and kings there on bended knees
It’s silver and gold, silver and gold
Feeling the world with their lives
Silver and gold how they shimmer on ev’ry Christmas night
On ev’ry Christmas night
Silver, silver and gold
Prayer Time
Our Heavenly Father, who is in heaven,
Help us to know the truth and then to speak the truth without hesitation.
In Yeshua the Messiah’s name, Amen.
Scripture Reference
Jeremiah 10:1-5 says, “Hear the word which YHVH speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the Lord, “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles. Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are futile, for one cuts a tree from the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold. They fasten it with nails and hammers so that it will not topple. They are upright like a palm tree and they cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them for they cannot do evil, nor can they do any good.”