CREEDE HINSHAW: Do you hear what I hear?

“The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.” That’s the way Edmund Sears imaginatively described the first Christmas in “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.” Without music, heavenly or earthly, instrumental, and vocal, Christmas would be a far less sacred season.

“Away in a Manger” may have been the first song I learned as a child. When my memory recedes, I hope I’ll retain the beauty and simplicity of this song.

Soon thereafter, I probably learned “Silent Night.” As a child, I could grasp a “tender” baby Jesus, was less clear about how he was “mild” and was clueless when it came to understanding “round yon virgin.” It didn’t matter. When I sing “Silent Night,” life becomes “calm and bright” because of the One about whom we sing.

Sometimes the songs are incredibly meaningful because of the tune setting. I am always moved by the tune named “IRBY,” which is usually accompanies the carol “Once in Royal David’s City.” And even though Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” has nothing to do with Jesus, listening to that dramatic and sublime orchestral music brings me close to Christmas.

I have deep appreciation for those poets who can portray the wonder of Jesus’ birth. Tiny Bethlehem, according to the carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” is the place where “… the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” It is majestic and inspiring to profess our faith in “O Come, All Ye Faithful” when we sing “… Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.”

It is reassuring, in these fragile days, to sing these words from “Joy to the World”: “He rules the world, with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the wonders of his love.” In a world shredded by war and led by craven leaders and insignificant legislators, this truth has never been more welcome.

Long before there were playlists, we had Christmas albums. 45 rpm records had one song on each side; an album would have a two-sided collection of approximately a dozen songs. I used to own quite a few Christmas records. The music, sacred and secular, was a welcome gift.

I confess to being smitten by secular Christmas music, too. Give me The Beach Boys’ “Little Saint Nick” or Bobby Helms’ “Jingle Bell Rock.” I love them every year. Although it’s fashionable to diss Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas,” I never get tired of it. Then there’s Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” She recorded it when she was 13, with Boots Randolph and Floyd Kramer backing her up. Last month, now 78, Ms. Lee recorded an enjoyable music video of this enormous hit.

I love them all, even though many of the lyrics are sappy. I scoff at the promise in “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” that “from now on your troubles will be miles away.” But I still love the song.

Do you hear what I hear? “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” but “it’s going to take more than turkey and mistletoe to make the season right.” Enjoy your playlist.