Thanks to Alan and John Lomax thoughtfully recording Leadbelly's introduction to his songs, we are given his comments about Childen Get So Happy on a Christmas Day.
Leadbelly tells about being a little boy and being visited by another boy, and hearing his mother say that "Christmas is a coming!" The young Leadbelly became very excited by this news. Perhaps he wasn't quite sure what it meant, but he wanted very much to know. In Leadbelly's words,
"So I grabbed the little boy by the hand and we went to the highest hill in my poppa's field...and I said, "I don't see no Christmas...do YOU?
He says, 'No, I don't see no Christmas!'
We come back to the house and we went to my Momma and said, 'Momma, we don't see no Christmas!'
She said, 'Well, it's a comin'!"
It makes me laugh to think about two little boys searching the horizon for a clue as to what this Christmas was all about. The simple song is about being visited by a very special person and sharing the amazing event with family and friends. It's not about having material goods at all.
Incidentally the chicken crows at midnight, signifying the holiness of the day. This tradition is also attested to by William Shakespeare in Hamlet Act 1 scene 1. (see https://dusttodigital.bandcamp.com/track/christmas-is-a-coming).
Children all get so happy on a Christmas Day,
Think I heard my momma said it's Christmas Day,
Think I heard my poppa said it's Christmas Day,
Old Santa Claus is movin' in on a Christmas Day
Chicken Crows at Midnight on a Christmas Day,
Children all get so happy on a Christmas Day,
Children all get so happy on a Christmas Day,
Children get out in the yard and swing on Christmas Day.
Children get out in the yard and swing on Christmas Day.
Children get out in the yard and swing on Christmas Day.
Children all get so happy on a Christmas Day,
Children all get so happy on a Christmas Day,
Everybody get so happy on a Christmas Day,
Everybody get so happy on a Christmas Day,
....1000 additional verses.
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