wednesday wallop #51 > its Christmas time
if you knew the details of how all of the songs have come to be, you would likely either laugh or cry…this weeks wallop was originally inspired by a book I am reading called Robert Falconer…the text in question is here, and describes Roberts descending the stairs of a big church in Antwerp, and here is what follows;
With his mind tossed on its own speechless delight, he was slowly descending still, when he saw on his left hand a door ajar. He would look what mystery lay within. A push opened it. He discovered only a little chamber lined with wood. In the centre stood something–a bench-like piece of furniture, plain and worn. He advanced a step; peered over the top of it; saw keys, white and black; saw pedals below: it was an organ! Two strides brought him in front of it. A wooden stool, polished and hollowed with centuries of use, was before it. But where was the bellows? That might be down hundreds of steps below, for he was half-way only to the ground. He seated himself musingly, and struck, as he thought, a dumb chord. Responded, up in the air, far overhead, a mighty booming clang. Startled, almost frightened, even as if Mary St. John had said she loved him, Robert sprung from the stool, and, without knowing why, moved only by the chastity of delight, flung the door to the post. It banged and clicked. Almost mad with the joy of the titanic instrument, he seated himself again at the keys, and plunged into a tempest of clanging harmony. One hundred bells hang in that tower of wonder, an instrument for a city, nay, for a kingdom. Often had Robert dreamed that he was the galvanic centre of a thunder-cloud of harmony, flashing off from every finger the willed lightning tone: such was the unexpected scale of this instrument–so far aloft in the sunny air rang the responsive notes, that his dream appeared almost realized. The music, like a fountain bursting upwards, drew him up and bore him aloft. From the resounding cone of bells overhead he no longer heard their tones proceed, but saw level-winged forms of light speeding off with a message to the nations. It was only his roused phantasy; but a sweet tone is nevertheless a messenger of God; and a right harmony and sequence of such tones is a little gospel.
…so inspired I thought I would have a go at a bell piece of a gargantuan nature…and…well it landed a bit flat. Undaunted I searched my archives and found the bit that formed the basis for this weeks wallop. I wanted to have a theme for the season – and decided to add some bells and glockenspiel, synths, choral support, guitar and back vox by Dennis etc…, but I will warn you – this does not have the standard look and feel of a Christmas ditty…having said that – I for one am so thankful for the birth of Christ and the ensuing blessings, if in some small way this song conveys my joy in this blessed time of year…mission accomplished… Merry Christmas.
its Christmas time
its Christmas time
he was born a man in a world of clay
on a special year on a special day
and no one before or since among men
like He has set His rule over devils animals corn and wind
its Christmas time
be of good cheer
its Christmas time
the Lord Christ is here
its Christmas time
in the good book there will be a day
when every single creature in the earth the air on land and sea will praise
so the question becomes for you and me
will we be among the wise…the blind or those who see?
its Christmas time
be of good cheer
its Christmas time
the Lord Christ is here
its Christmas time
