Open the door to Christmas (Oliver Barton)

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  • CPDL #06678:  Network.png PDF, MIDI & FInale 2004 files
Editor: Oliver Barton (submitted 2004-02-10).   Score information: A4, 12 pages, 285 kB   Copyright: Personal
Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Open the Door to Christmas
Composer: Oliver Barton

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Soloists: S or Bar
Genre: SecularCarol

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

First published:

Description: Repetitive and frantic builds flank a reflective section with a mezzo or baritone solo. The general sentiment is "open the door to your brother/sister outside, alone in the cold - how can you be warm with family and friends while he or she's lonely, cold and starving?" The solo is the thoughts of the visitor coming through the open door and experiencing the warmth of a family.

Original text and translations

English.png English text

Open the door to Christmas,
Open the door, the season’s here; here,
Open the door to Christmas,
Open the door, the reason’s clear:
Open the door to Christmas,
Open the door, your brother’s standing outside.
How could you let your brother
Be on his own at Christmas?
He’s on his own at Christmas,
he’s so alone, see, alone.
Why do we walk so blindly?
Help us to be more kindly,
Open the door, open the door, open the door!
You are safe, you are warm,
But your brother’s not;
What? Who is your brother?
He’s there in the street.
Open your heart to each person you meet;
What would it take to make Christmas complete?
He’s out there, he’s out there, he’s out there.
What little thing would make sense of Christmas?
Christmas, tell me that.
Is it enough that we spend a fortune on mere tat?
Offer a gift to the manger,
offer babe in a manger,
Open your door to a stranger,
Open you arms to your brother,
Open your heart to another,
We are safe, we are warm, but our brother’s not.
Open your door, open your arms, open your heart.
Open the door to Christmas,
Open the door, the season’s here.
Oh, Open the door to your brother outside.