There are just three more weeks to go in this Trumptastic year, so you probably need a soother to get you relaxed enough to enjoy the weekend.
Since we are getting snow here at the Mansion of Wrong, try to stay warm and cozy as we remember Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer who died on Wednesday. Greg was also a founding member of King Crimson. As Matty Karas said, being a founder of those two groups places Greg Lake near ground zero in the history of progressive rock. Did you know that progressive rock has not been recognized by the R&R Hall of Fame?
So, today we listen to Greg doing “I Believe in Father Christmas”, which was released as a solo on 45 by Atlantic in October, 1975. Although most people think of it as a Christmas song, that was not Lake’s intention. He said that he wrote the song in protest at the commercialization of Christmas.
Here Lake performs it live at St. Bride’s Church, in the City of London, along with Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson on flute, David Arch on keyboards, Florian Opahle on acoustic guitar, and the church’s choir:
Kind of breathtaking with Ian Anderson on the flute, along with the church choir!
Those who read the Wrongologist in email can view the video here.
Sample lyrics:
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 we get we deserve
We get the Christmas we deserve…
