Best and worst bits of carols

[Calendulaaaaa]

Best:
The verse in We three kings that gets really graphic about death
All of in the bleak midwinter

Worst:
"Alleluia the earth replies" I imagine a giant talking planet

I like the end of “Sing Hosanna to the king” when everyone is unsure to add “of kings” and get all muddled up at the end haha

Oh my god that's so awkward!! No the opposite rod that

Worst: 'Christian children all must be / Mild, obedient, good as he' in Once in Royal David's City. Vomit city, more like. And I say that finding the rest of that carol incredibly touching.

All of 'Away in a Manger', for similar reasons.

All of 'I Saw Three Ships', which I find completely pointless.

'For known a blesséd mother thou shalt be' is a syntactic horror show from 'The Angel Gabriel' that my toes curl does make.

Best: 'Sacred infant, all-divine / What a tender love was thine / Thus to come from highest bliss / Down to such a world as this' from See Amid the Winter's Snow. Chokes me up every time.

I like carols that set out the basis of Christmas, so 'This is the Truth Sent from Above' and 'Adam Lay Ybounden' are firm favourites.

The whole of verse three of 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' - 'How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given' - so beautiful.

The final verse of 'Hark, the Herald' is magnificent.

Worst bits:

• Any carol that goes on and on and on. Sung by a choir, they're beautiful. Sung by the average church congregation, they're boring dirges. See in particular: Joy to the World. I hated it until I heard it sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir one year.

Best bits:

• Anything mournful and beautiful. I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day and In the Bleak Midwinter are my favourites.