Song Of The Weekend: Greg Lake – “I Believe In Father Christmas”

As we near closer to another Christmas I thought it would be nice to choose a holiday song.  I’ve always been a big fan of Greg Lake and his work with Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP).  There were moments of pure musical genius created by ELP.  There were also other moments it was a bit hard to follow where they were going 🙂  At times it felt like they were striving for an almost operatic feel in their songwriting.   In my personal opinion, Greg was always at his best as a singer when the production was somewhat stripped down and you can hear the power of his voice and beauty of the lyrics.

ELP reunited briefly in 2010 for a 40th Anniversary concert, but this was a rarity.   Thankfully Greg still does tour every once in awhile.  I encourage you to catch him if and when you can.  In the meantime, enjoy one of my favorite holiday songs, “I Believe In Father Christmas” which according to Greg is not anti-religious as some would like to espouse.

They said there’ll be snow at Christmas
They said there’ll be peace on earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the virgin’s birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winters light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire 

They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a silent night
And they told me a fairy story
’till I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in father Christmas
And I looked at the sky with excited eyes
’till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise

I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave new year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there’ll be snow at Christmas
They said there’ll be peace on earth
Hallelujah noel be it heaven or hell
The Christmas you get you deserve

Related articles

• Emerson, Lake and Palmer – 40th Anniversary Reunion Concert (musicofourheart.wordpress.com)
• Happy Birthday Greg Lake (wncx.radio.com)
• Music DVD Review: Emerson, Lake and Palmer – 40th Anniversary Reunion Concert (blogcritics.org)
• Music DVD Review: Emerson, Lake & Palmer – 40th Anniversary Reunion Concert (blogcritics.org)
• Emerson Lake & Palmer: Emerson Lake & Palmer / Tarkus (Deluxe Edition) (Review) (popmatters.com)
• Christmas songs advent calendar: Day 7. Greg Lake – I Believe in Father Christmas (telegraph.co.uk)

Advertisements