My favorite “pop” Christmas song of all time may be Bobby Darin’s Christmas Auld Lang Syne.

It starts off with the schmaltzy* imagery of “mistletoe and tinsel glow” — but just as such symbolism can and should, uses it to move to something more meaningful…

…first to how the surface stuff reminds us that it’s the time of year to return to family and friends, “back home I go to those I know”…

…and then even further, to what’s at the heart of the celebration, in the season of singing “in sweet accord to thank the Lord”.

Trust me, the actual music is better than my description of it. And as Mr. Darin himself says, Merry Christmas, everybody!

*Ian Donnis‘ word of the week.