Song of the Day 12/25: Greg Lake w/ Ian Anderson, “I Believe in Father Christmas”
In the UK, where singles are still a thing, bands frequently write and record Christmas songs in the hopes of scoring a seasonal hit. Greg Lake released this one in 1975, and it’s become one of the more popular holiday tunes of the rock era. Lake intended it as a song against the commercialization of Christmas, but some people mistook it as anti-religious. This video of Lake performing the song in St. Bride’s Church in London — along with Jethro Tull leader Ian Anderson on flute — should put that perception to rest.
Hi, Alby,
Good one! Best wishes to you and Mrs. A!
However, you missed my favorite Christmas song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8
This song was recently covered by Scotland’s top new folk band, Peat and Diesel, who are taking the country by storm, with sold out concerts everywhere:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mwgm1_UHiE
The third verse is in Scots Gaelic. Love the line about the sheep in the fourth verse!
I’m hoping that my Christmas wish comes true, although I may have to wait until November.
I have to confess I’ve never cared for that one. IMHO it has nothing to do with Christmas, and I’ve got a strong, serious aversion to self-pitying drunks. To each his own, of course.
Alby- do you ever have anything nice to say? Miserable old coot.
Not about that song, which routinely appears on “best of” lists of Christmas songs despite, as I said, having nothing to do with the actual holiday.
Setting a tale of woe at Christmas is a lazy way for a writer to play up the pathos, which is the only reason the song is set at Christmas. He could have set it at the Fourth of July and had the choir sing patriotic tunes and it would make no real difference in the meaning of the song.
If that offends you, too bad. I’m sure you can find the door without my help.