Sing Christmas Carols to Different Tunes!
Ever wondered if you can sing some of your favorite Christmas Carols to different tunes? Well you can! You can sing 'One Carol to the tune of another'!
The below lists of carols and there alternative tunes are arranged by 'meter' (the rhythm of a tune). You can (normally) sing things in the same meter (without too much trouble). Don't worry if you don't know about meters, it will be clear what Christmas carols you can sing to other tunes!
(Tune names are in the curved brackets) and [Comments about any tweaks needed are in square brackets]
Carols in '8.6.8.6' - which can be sung to each other's tunes:
- O Little Town of Bethlehem (St Louis / Forest Green) - [You need to add a refrain with Antioch]
- While Shepherds Watched (Winchester Old / Christmas and many others!) - [You need to add a refrain with Antioch]
- It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Carol - Willis / Noel) - [You need to add a refrain with Antioch]
- Joy to the World (Antioch) - [There's no refrains with Willis/Noel/St Louis/Forest Green; you need to add extra refrains with While Shepherds Watched tunes!]
Can be sung to these other tunes [but with no refrain on Joy to the World]
- O God our Help in Ages Past (St Anne)
- The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond)
- I heard the voice of Jesus say (Kingsfold)
- America the Beautiful (Materna)
- Amazing Grace (New Britain)
- House of the Rising Sun [Yes, really!]
Some more tunes they can be sung to [but with different tweaks needed]
- "On Ilkla Mooar Baht 'at" (Cranbrook) - [Only works nicely with While Shepherds Watched and Joy to the World!]
- O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Lyngham) - [Works with While Shepherds Watched, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear and Joy to the World but you need to add lots of extra refrains!]
Carols in '8.7.8.7.8.7' - which can be sung to each other's tunes:
[These mostly fit but some tweaking of the final lines/refrains is needed. Some are dropped, others are duplicated, some you sort of have to fiddle!]
- Once in Royal David's City (Irby)
- Angels from the Realms of Glory (Regent Square)
- Of the Father's Heart Begotten (Divinum Mysterium)
Can be sung to these other tunes
- Guide me of thou Great Jehovah/Redeemer (Cwm Rhondda) - [For Once in Royal David's City, repeat the last line as a refrain; Angels from the Realms of Glory, tweak the refrain so it's: 'Come and worship' x2 'Worship Christ the new-born King' x2]
- Praise my Soul the King of Heaven (Lauda Anima) - [Angels from the Realms of Glory, tweak the refrain so it's: 'Come and worship' x2 Worship Christ the new-born King; Of the Father's Heart Begotten, no 'Evermore and Evermore' final lines on verses]
- All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey [Yes, really! In the 2nd half you might have to have an extra space, but it mostly works.]
Carols in '8.7.8.7' with refrain
- What Child is This? (Greensleeves)
Can be sung to another tune
- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Nettleton) [It just about works!]
Carols in '11.11.11.11' or '6.5.6.5' - which can be sung to each other's tunes:
- Away in a Manger (Cradle Song / Mueller)
- In the Bleak Midwinter (Cranham)
Can be sung to these other tunes
- Immortal Invisible God Only Wise (St. Denio)
- Onward Christian Soldiers (St Gertrude) [You have to repeat the last two lines as refrains]
- To God be the Glory (same) [The verses fit but you need to sing the chorus from the hymn or make up some more words!]
- At the Name of Jesus (Camberwell / Evelyns) [Evelyns is a bit better; a few word tweaks are needed for Camberwell]
Carols in '7.7.7.7.7.7' - which can be sung to each other's tunes:
- As With Gladness Men of Old (Dix)
- Angels We Have Heard on High (Iris)
Can be sung to these other tunes
- For the Beauty of the Earth (Dix) [As with Gladness, it often uses the same tune so is a perfect fit; Angels We Have Heard, make the 'Gloria' extra long and it fits!]
- Rock of Ages (Toplady) [As with Gladness, perfect fit; Angels We Have Heard, make the 'Gloria' extra long and it fits!]
Carols in '7.7.7.7' / '7.7.7.7.7' - Can be sung to each other's tunes:
They work but you have to lose the refrain from Hark the Herald and repeat the last two lines of the chorus on See Amid the Winter's Snow!
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Mendelson)
- See Amid the Winter's Snow (See amid)
Can be sung to these other tunes
- Jesus Loves Me this I know (Warner) [Hark the Herald, you need to add some extra notes and no refrain but it just about fits; See Amid, you need to add some extra notes]
- Take my Life and Let Me Be (Hendon / Nottingham) [Hendon: Hark the Herald, split the verses into two, repeat the last lines and no refrain; See Amid, repeat the last line of the verses and the chorus - but gets very boring! Nottingham: Hark the Herald, split the verses into two and no refrain; Fits but boring]
Carols in '8.8.8.8.8.8' - Can be sung to each other's tunes:
- O Come, O Come, Immanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
- On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (Sussex Carol)
Can be sung to these other tunes
- Eternal Father Strong to Save (Melita)
- My Hope is Built (The Solid Rock) [you need some extra repeats!]
Wrong Tunes Carol Service Suggestions!
Here are a couple of lists of Carol Services using 'carol swap' or 'other tunes'. Or why not sing some of the hymns to carol tunes during the rest of the year to spread the joy of Christmas!
A Carol Service with all 'Carol Swaps'
- O Little Town of Bethlehem (St Louis / Forest Green) and It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Carol - Willis / Noel) [multiple options!]
- Once in Royal David's City (Irby) and Angels from the Realms of Glory (Regent Square)
- Away in a Manger (Cradle Song / Mueller) and In the Bleak Midwinter (Cranham)
- As With Gladness Men of Old (Dix) and Angels We Have Heard on High (Iris)
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Mendelson) and See Amid the Winter's Snow (See amid)
- O Come, O Come, Immanuel (Veni Emmanuel) and On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (Sussex Carol)
A Carol Service with all 'Other Tunes'
- Once in Royal David's City - Praise my Soul the King of Heaven (Lauda Anima)
- O Come, O Come, Immanuel - Eternal Father Strong to Save (Melita)
- O Little Town of Bethlehem - House of the Rising Sun
- Away in a Manger - At the Name of Jesus (Evelyns)
- While Shepherds Watched - "On Ilkla Mooar Baht 'at" (Cranbrook)
- It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond)
- As With Gladness Men of Old - Rock of Ages (Toplady)
- Joy to the World - Amazing Grace (New Britain) [No refrains]
If you know of any more that I've missed, especially non hymn tunes, please contact me. I'd love to add more to the list!
Last Updated: | Sources Information | Written by: James Cooper