Unusual Rock and Roll Christmas Songs (7)

For our last "unusual" Christmas rock tune we go back to 1974 when Greg Lake took a break from buddies Emerson and Palmer to record a song he'd written protesting the commercialism of Christmas.

I Believe In Father Christmas was apparently misinterpreted as being anti-religious and Lake was surprised by it's success. The song shot to #2 in 1975 and is Lake's only hit solo release.

ELP later recorded the song for their 1977 album Works Volume II.

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 winter's 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.

La la la la la la la la la la....

Unusual Rock and Roll Christmas Songs (6)

Well, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and got all the CDs you were asking for! We conclude our week of unusual rock Christmas tunes today with what has become a modern day classic.

In 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded Happy Xmas (War Is Over). The song was intended as a protest against the Vietnam war but has become a Christmas standard. Countless musicians have covered the song. But I like the original.

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

Unusual Rock and Roll Christmas Songs (5)

Merry Christmas! I just had to include this song from U2 this week and today seemed like the most appropriate day to do it. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) was co-written by Phil Spector and originally sung by Darlene Love in 1963. It had been intended for Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes.

U2's version was released in 1987 after having been recorded at a sound check in Glasgow, Scotland during their Joshua Tree tour. It was later included on the compilation album A Very Special Christmas, with Darlene Love providing backing vocals.

It's Christmas ... baby, please come home
Yeah

The snow's comin' down / Christmas
I'm watchin' it fall / Christmas
Lots of people around / Christmas
Baby, please come home

The church bells in town / Christmas
They're ringin' a song / Christmas
What a happy sound / Christmas
Baby, please come home

They're singin' 'Deck the Halls'
But it's not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year

Pretty lights on the tree / Christmas
I'm watchin' 'em shine / Christmas
You should be here with me / Christmas
Baby, please come home
Baby, please come home
Baby, please come home

They're singin' 'Deck the Halls'
But it's not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year

If there was a way / Christmas
I'd hold back these tears / Christmas
But it's Christmas day / Christmas
Baby, please come home / Christmas
Home / Christmas

Baby, please come home / Christmas
Baby, please come home / Christmas
Baby, please come home / Christmas
Home / Christmas

Baby, please come home / Christmas

Unusual Rock and Roll Christmas Songs (3)

Our third unusual Christmas rock song is one of the first I recall hearing that wasn't by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin or Elvis or some such artist. Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys was released in 1963 at the height of their popularity, when I was 11 years old. I thought it was pretty cool. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the song borrows heavily from their hit Little Deuce Coupe.

The song was re-recorded in 1964 for release on The Beach Boys Christmas Album.

Oooooooo
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Christmas comes this time each year
Oooooooo oooooooo
Well, way up north where the air gets cold
There's a tale about Christmas that you've all been told
And a real famous cat all dressed up in red
And he spends the whole year workin' out on his sled
It's the little Saint Nick
Ooooo, little Saint Nick
It's the little Saint Nick
Ooooo, little Saint Nick
Just a little bobsled we call it old Saint Nick
But she'll walk a toboggan with a four speed stick
She's candy-apple red with a ski for a wheel
And when Santa hits the gas, man, just watch her peel
It's the little Saint Nick
Ooooo, little Saint Nick
It's the little Saint Nick
Ooooo, little Saint Nick
Run run reindeer
Run run reindeer
Whoaa
Run run reindeer
Run run reindeer
He don't miss no one
And haulin' through the snow at a frightenin' speed
With a half a dozen deer with Rudy to lead
He's gotta wear his goggles 'cause the snow really flies
And he's cruisin' every pad with a little surprise
It's the little Saint Nick
Ooooo, little Saint Nick
It's the little Saint Nick
Ooooo, little Saint Nick
Ahhhhhh
Oooooooo
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Christmas comes this time each year
Ahhhhhh
Oooooooo
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Christmas comes this time each year
Ahhhhhh
Oooooooo
Merry Christmas Saint Nick
Christmas comes this time each year

Unusual Rock and Roll Christmas Songs (2)

Welcome to Day 2 of our week long look at unusual Christmas rock songs. Today's tune comes from a favourite artist of mine - Chris Rea. Driving Home For Christmas was one of two new tracks on the compilation album New Light Through Old Windows, released in 1988.

When first released, the song reached #53 on the UK charts. Re-released in 2007, the song hit #33, the first time it had cracked the UK Top 40.

Driving home for Christmas

Oh, I can't wait to see those faces

I'm driving home for Christmas, yea

Well I'm moving down that line

And it's been so long

But I will be there I sing this song

To pass the time away

Driving in my car

Driving home for Christmas

It's gonna take some time

But I'll get there

Top to toe in tail-lights

Oh, I got red lights on the run

But soon there'll be a freeway

Get my feet on holy ground

So I sing for you

Though you can't hear me

When I get through

And feel you near me

I am driving home for Christmas

Driving home for Christmas

With a thousand memories

I take look at the driver next to me

He's just the same

Just the same

Top to toe in tail-lights

Oh, I got red lights on the run

I'm driving home for Christmas, yea

Get my feet on holy ground

So I sing for you

Though you can't hear me

When I get trough

And feel you near me

Driving in my car

Driving home for Christmas

Driving home for Christmas

With a thousand memories

Unusual Rock and Roll Christmas Songs (1)

Welcome to Christmas week at dufusdownbeat. This week, in the days leading up to Christmas, I thought I'd post every day and share with you some of my favourite not-so traditional Christmas songs from the world of rock and roll.

First up is Fairytale of New York from the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. Released in early December 1987 it hit #1 in Ireland and #2 in Britain. The song comes from the album If I Should Fall From Grace With God. I love this song. It was voted Best Christmas Song Ever 3 years in a row from 2004 through 2006 in polls sponsored by VH1 UK.

It was christmas eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me: won't see another one
And then they sang a song
The rare old mountain dew
I turned my face away and dreamed about you
Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I´ve got a feeling
This year´s for me and you
So happy christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
Where all our dreams come true.

They got cars big as bars
They got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It´s no place for the old
When you first took my hand on a cold christmas eve
You promised me broadway was waiting for me
You were handsome you were pretty
Queen of new york city when the band finished playing they yelled out for more
Sinatra was swinging all the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night.

And the boys from the NYPD choir were singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out for christmas day.

You´re a bum you´re a punk
You´re an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy christmas your arse I pray god it´s our last.

And the boys of the NYPD choir's still singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out
For christmas day.

I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can´t make it out alone
I´ve built my dreams around you

And the boys of the NYPD choir's still singing Galway Bay
And the bells are ringing out
For christmas day.