Closing of the Year

I’ve used this title before.

Its the title to one of my favorite holiday songs.

I say “holiday” not to be politically correct, for the song itself sings of Christmas. But more importantly, it sings of the closing of the year, which includes several holidays – even Thanksgiving, if the spirit moves you. Even so, it sings of more…

The song is from the soundtrack to the motion picture Toys starring Robin Williams. The movie is not for small children (it contains violence against toys), but is a quirky look at family relationships, and the role of child-likeness in true maturity. There are several other themes which overlap and make the movie fairly sophisitcated..but this is not a movie review.

Its a music review.

The movie opens and closes with a beautifully powerful anthem, “Closing of the Year”. The music apart from the score is highly compelling, containing a mix of traditional acoustic instruments and a few with electronic enhancement. A true anthem (as I define it), it contains massive drum sound (something I love) maintaining a fast march through the longer, ending version. It also features bell choir, and jingle bells (real ones).

But the lyrics.

The lyrics, together with the music, cause me to want to bow down and worship. It overwhelms me on every level. It is ethereal joy expressed in sound. It is simply awesome.

It is music I want played at my funeral. It is for me what I hope to hear in heaven. The message is one both of the moment, and of your life.

The opening version contains a very simple chorus and verse. The closing version adds to it greatly, featuring a children’s choir and a solo by Seal. The problem is, the anthem is so strong, that the lyrics are occasionally drowned out. Every now and again, I search for the lyrics online, usually with little or no luck. Everyone knows the main chorus; no one knows the added lyrics.

This morning, I put my copy of Toys into the CD player, and listened to it for the first time this season (a very late start for me. Most years, I also play it in July, because the song matches the hope and energy I feel in Summer). At hearing it played on my roommates large speakers with extra bass, I was driven into my computer office.

Surely, with the current power of the net, my ever improving search skills, and this mighty computer I have built — surely I can finally resolve the lyrics!

I found that part of the problem may have been the wide variety of talent to which the song is attributed; Seal is the only performer I am certain of, because his voice is so unique. I’m also not able to tell for certain who the writer or producers are.

What I found was a few sites which misquoted the commonly known lyrics, which was not so bothersome as it was interesting. Each of us interprets music for what we need to hear in it. These listeners found that the word “home” rather than “hope” gave them answers they needed.

I found a page which produced jibberish text on my screen, but which played the music for me. It loops. That made me smile! The song looped here ends abruptly; as part of the soundtrack, another reprise (part of the finale) which starts immediately is being cut off.

After 45 minutes of searching, I finally found a nearly complete listing on Lyrics007.com. Nearly, but not quite so. It had several gaps. Large gaps. But it was more complete than any I had ever found, and it validated much of what I had come to believe I was hearing.

I spent the next two hours listening over and over, trying to fill in the holes as best I could. It is a labor of love.

Here for the first time in my life, in my journal, and possibly on the Internet, is the most complete lyrics. (Two uncertain words marked. Punctuation/capitalization added for clarity.) Please listen and read along.

If I cannot bring you comfort,
then at least I bring you Hope.
For nothing is more precious
than the time we have, and so,
we all must learn from small misfortune,
count the blessings that are real.
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
at the closing of the year.
Let the bells ring out for Christmas
at the closing of the year…

Hop on the knees of the

servant; take a
ride through the woods with the wind in your hair!
Silver bells, and the snow, and reindeer
as we reel and toss off all our cares!

If I cannot bring you comfort,
then at least I bring you hope.

Now all the winter bells are ringing —
hear them echo through the snow
— and the children’s voices singing
on the streets so far below.
This is a time to be together,
and The Truth is somewhere here
within our love for people
at the closing of the year.

We’ll walk in His sight
with all of the pain,
and all of the patience,
and all of the way
with all that is right,
and all of us sayin’,
“Love one another” —
we’ll fly in the arms of time!
Walk, and The Way is never far!
Don’t Fall [at the closing of the year]
at the closing of the year!

If I cannot bring you comfort,
then at least I bring you hope.

Then at least I bring you Hope…

God bless each one of you. May joy and innocence prevail!