Carol of the Old Ones

"Carol of the Old Ones" is a song originally published in the 1988 HPLHS Solstice Carol Songbook, released by the H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society. With lyrics written by Andrew Leman, it is sung and performed to the tune of "Carol of the Bells" by Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych (itself sung to the tune of Shchedryk), with soprano lead vocals and four-part harmony at various points in the song. The song is performed by The Dagon Tabernacle Choir; the performers' names are Rebecca Marcotte, Digby Dolmen, J.D. Titan, and Walter Forsythe. It can be found on the album A Very Scary Solstice.

The song alludes to the Old Ones in H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, although the exact context is never specified, as Lovecraft himself used several different contexts for the term Old Ones. The lyrics of the song carry several characteristics of Lovecraftian horror, such as the recurring concept of helplessness and hopelessness, with such lines as:

They will reclaim all in their name;

Hopes turn to black when they come back

and

Madness will reign, terror and pain

Woes without end where they extend.

External links

• The H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society's page for The Carol of the Old Ones
• A stop-motion animation showcasing the song posted with the approval of The H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society
• the Cthulhu Carols page