Holly Bears a Berry: A Gentle Reminder of Enduring Faith
Ah, the holidays. They bring with them a unique tapestry of sights, sounds, and, perhaps most powerfully, memories. For many of us, the season is inextricably linked to music – not just the boisterous carols of childhood, but also the quieter, more reflective tunes that speak to the heart of the matter. And if you cast your mind back to a particular era, a time when television was a gathering point and its stars became household names, you might recall a surprisingly poignant collaboration that, while not a chart-topping phenomenon, offered a beautiful moment of Yuletide contemplation. I’m speaking, of course, of Bobby Sherman and David Soul‘s rendition of “Holly Bears a Berry (Sans Day Carol)”.
Let’s set the scene, shall we? It was the early 1970s, a period of transition in popular culture. Bobby Sherman, with his youthful good looks and melodic voice, was a bonafide teen idol. His face graced countless magazine covers, and his pop hits like “Little Woman” and “Easy Come, Easy Go” filled the airwaves, earning him a string of top 10 successes. He was the quintessential wholesome heartthrob, a star who had effortlessly transitioned from television acting to a thriving music career. Then there was David Soul. While he would later become a global sensation as Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson in “Starsky & Hutch,” in the early 70s, he was still building his career, appearing in various television roles and making forays into music himself. He was perhaps best known at this point for his role as Joshua Bolt on “Here Come the Brides.” Their paths, at first glance, might seem disparate, yet they converged, however briefly, on this charming Christmas carol.
The release of “Holly Bears a Berry (Sans Day Carol)” wasn’t a major chart event in the same vein as some of Bobby Sherman‘s earlier hits. It didn’t climb into the Billboard Hot 100’s upper echelons, and frankly, it wasn’t intended to. This was not a bid for pop stardom; rather, it was a gentle offering, a piece that appeared on a compilation album, most likely one of the many Christmas-themed records that proliferated during the holiday season. Its chart position, if it even registered, would have been an ancillary detail. The true significance lay in its quiet beauty and the unexpected pairing of these two television personalities. For those of us who remember tuning into variety shows or special holiday broadcasts, these kinds of musical interludes were a cherished part of the festive experience, moments when beloved figures from our screens shared a different side of their talents.
The “Sans Day Carol,” from which “Holly Bears a Berry” derives its core, is a traditional Cornish Christmas carol. Its origins stretch back centuries, rooted in the folk traditions of England. Unlike many carols that focus on the Nativity scene itself, the “Sans Day Carol” weaves a metaphorical tale around the holly and the ivy, plants deeply intertwined with ancient winter solstice rituals and, later, Christian symbolism. The holly, with its sharp leaves and red berries, represents Christ’s crown of thorns and the blood he shed, while the berry itself symbolizes the fruit of salvation. The carol tells a story of the holly growing and bearing a berry, a narrative that subtly alludes to the miraculous birth and the ultimate sacrifice. It’s a song rich in layers of meaning, drawing from both pre-Christian traditions and deeply held Christian beliefs, presenting them in a simple, almost childlike narrative.
What makes Bobby Sherman and David Soul‘s rendition particularly memorable, beyond the novelty of their collaboration, is its tender, earnest delivery. There’s a sincerity in their voices, a lack of pretension that truly allows the ancient beauty of the carol to shine through. It’s not a performance designed to impress with vocal pyrotechnics, but rather one to soothe and inspire reflection. For older listeners, it evokes a simpler time, a period when Christmas music wasn’t always a spectacle but often a quiet contemplation. It reminds us of crackling fires, the scent of pine, and the gentle murmur of family conversations. It’s a song that settles into the soul, a quiet affirmation of enduring faith and the timeless magic of the season, a gentle echo from a past Christmas that continues to resonate with warmth and meaning. In a world that often seems to rush by, this humble carol, delivered by two familiar faces, invites us to pause, remember, and find solace in its simple, profound message.