Remember, if you wish, this is just a Christmas song. So how can you laugh when your own mother’s hungryĪnd how can you smile when the reasons for smiling are wrong?Īnd if I’ve just messed up your thoughtless pleasures, That Christmas spirit is not what you drink. You’re missing the point I’m sure does not need making You’ll laugh when I tell you to take a running jump. When you’re stuffing yourselves at the Christmas parties, You’d do well to remember the things He later said. Once in Royal David’s City, stood a lowly cattle shed, “A Christmas Song” begins familiarly enough and then… Melodies from classic Christmas songs appear throughout the album giving the new songs added resonance by tying them to the past. This song is followed by an instrumental treatment of “The Holly and the Ivy” combined with “Hark the Herald Angels” under the title “Holly Herald.” It’s a charming, Tullish romp with melodies from both classics linked by Anderson’s imaginative flute playing. Not really a traditional message, but the music makes it feel authentic. Hey there sweet baby Jesus–let’s share a birthday card with you. That little baby Jesus he got a birthday card or three. Perfunctory in celebration, you offer content but no style. I am the shadow in your Christmas, I am the corner of your smile. Sleigh bells, bearded red-suited uncles, Pointy trees and angel wings. While their minds were fixed on other things. Pole star hovered in the blackness, I looked again it wasn’t there. Wood smoke curled from blackened chimneys. Got a birthday card at Christmas it made me think of Jesus Christ.
Read “Birthday Card at Christmas” for a sample of what I mean. Ian Anderson sings and plays mandolin, acoustic guitar, piccolo and, of course flute (perched on one leg, as always!) The songs are, for the most part, original pieces which carry a traditional framework, and offer lyrics which comment on the realities of modern life, and how our expectations for the Christmas season might be somewhat skewed. The Tull Band this go-round features Martin Barre on guitars, Doane Perry on percussion and drums, Andrew Giddings on keyboards and accordion, and Jonathan Noyce on bass. Although taken aback for a moment, I remembered half-formed plans from some years ago for a Christmas-related set of tunes and so quickly offered, ‘Give me 24 hours and I’ll come back to you with a track list and running order.’And I did…” He goes on to give some details about the recording and to suggest that “if you liked “Bouree” and the Songs From the Wood record, you will love. “Two days before Christmas 2000, I received an e-mail from Fuel 2000 record company boss Len Fico suggesting the improbable scenario of a dedicated Tull Christmas album for the following year. Ian Anderson relates in his liner notes the following tale. I read it like this: “The JETHRO TULL CHRISTMAS? album?” I was not the only surprised person though. Now I have to tell you, when I first saw this album listed on the Jethro Tull Web site I did a double take.