"Christmas on the Sea," also known as "Christmas by the Bay," is an old New England song (c. 1883) with music by George Frederick Root

George Frederick Root

George Frederick Root was an American songwriter, who found particular fame during the American Civil War.-Biography:...

 and lyrics by Hezekiah Butterworth

Hezekiah Butterworth

Hezekiah Butterworth was an American writer of books for young people, and a poet.- Biography :Born in Warren, Rhode Island, he was platform lecturer, speaking on education, hymnology, and his travels, which included tours in Europe, South America, Cuba and Canada...

. Reportedly it was President Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...

's favorite Christmas song. Among the few artists who have recorded it are Burl Ives

Burl Ives

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was an American actor, writer and folk music singer. As an actor, Ives's work included comedies, dramas, and voice work in theater, television, and motion pictures. Music critic John Rockwell said, "Ives's voice .....

 on the albums Christmas at the White House

Christmas at the White House

Christmas at the White House is a 1972 album with a lengthy subtitle: Burl Ives Sings the Favorite Carols and Hymns of America's Presidents. It purports to be a collection of thirteen presidents' favorite Christmas songs. It has not yet been released on CD.Some of the selections were apparently...

(1972) and Christmas by the Bay

Christmas by the Bay

Christmas by the Bay, recorded at the Sail Loft in the Washington Navy Yard, is Burl Ives's last original Christmas album. It includes only one new Christmas song by Ives: "The Sense of Christmas." The other songs are new performances of previously recorded songs: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer";...

(1977) and Stan Ransom on his albums North Country Christmas (1994) and My Long Island Home (1997).

Further reading

• Hezikiah Butterworth, Poems for Christmas, Easter and the New Year's. Boston: Estes and Lauriat, 1885.