Christmas Is Coming

I remember as a teen, hearing John Denver and the Muppets sing a song I had never heard before. It was sung in the round. Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat. Please put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do. If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you! On and on it went. I did not understand the song at the time but still enjoyed the tune. It turns out the song was based on a British nursery rhyme from the 19th century. I assume the goose getting fat meant that was good news for the Christmas dinner. Generosity in helping the less fortuna...