Story Songs: Rock in the Christmas Season

Christmas has been the air for quite some time (since August?) so here's some holiday music by rock artists to deck your halls and jingle your bells. 

The first ones I ever recall were back in the 1950s (yes, Virginia, I am that old),  Bobby Helms' "Jingle Bell Rock" in 1957 and Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" in 1958. Those songs seem to open the door for other rockers to sing Christmas cheer. They've also became holiday music staples.

The great Elvis Presley recorded a classic in 1957 with "Blue Christmas," which was released again in 1964 to even more acclaim. 

In the 1960s, The Beach Boys released a Christmas album which included the bouncy "Little Saint Nick." The Ronettes got into the holiday fun with the Phil Spector-produced "Frosty the Snowman." 

From across the big pond, The Beatles found time to record "Christmas Time Is Here Again" and The Kinks sang "Father Christmas."

The Boss recorded a rockin' version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" in the 1975 and again in 1985.

The Carpenters recorded memorable holiday song with "Merry Christmas, Darling" in 1970, an annual reminder of the beauty of Karen's voice.

Paul McCartney and Wings produced a delightful tune with "Wonderful Christmastime" in 1979 that is guaranteed to lift your spirits.

I'll close out this post with two Christmas songs that focus on peace on earth. The first is The Moody Blues' "Yes I Believe."

And my favorite Christmas-inspired rock tune is John Lennon and Yoko Ono's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." 

What are your favorite Christmas rockers?

Happy holidays everyone!

Until the next time...

Story Songs: When I'm Sixty-Four

I was 18 in the summer of 1967 when The Beatles released their masterpiece album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."

One of the tracks was the Paul McCartney-penned "When I'm Sixty-Four." For me, 64 seemed distant and so old! I arrived at that number several months ago and I suppose that makes me old now. 

The song is about a young man asking his sweetheart if they'll still be together in their twilight years:

"When I get older losing my hair
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

"If I'd been out til quarter to three
Would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me
When I'm sixty-four?"

The narrator goes on to tell what a wonderful life they'll have if they stay together into old age, such as doing things around the house, renting a vacation cottage, and eventually having grandchildren "Vera, Chuck and Dave."

And he awaits her answer:

"Send me a postcard, drop me a line
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, Wasting Away.

"Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?"

This is really a feel-good song, full of optimism and love. When I hear this tune it reminds me how versatile the group was and how they weren't afraid to take chances with their lyrics and melodies.

Sadly, only surviving members McCartney (70) and Ringo Starr (72) reached 64. John  Lennon (40) was murdered in 1980 and George Harrison (58) died from cancer in 2001. (As for the image at the right, I remember when it was published. If anyone can provide artist/publication, I will give a credit line).

For me, during those years since the song was released, I've been losing my hair and I've got two grandchildren (Lily and Lola). I have rented cottages a few times and I've fixed (and damaged) a few things around the house. And my spouse still feeds me so I guess she still needs me now that I'm 64.


"When I'm Sixty-Four" lyrics

Story Songs: Eleanor Rigby

The Beatles's catalog of music is immense and impressive, to say the least. The group went through different phases of creativity as they matured individually, collectively, and artisitically.

One of my favorite songs is "Eleanor Rigby." It was on the Revolver album in 1966,  which I thought was quite a departure from previous efforts. Many critics consider Rubber Soul, released the previous year, as the transitional album from their pop efforts to a more serious and thematic approach to music.

Paul McCartney and John Lennon could be very thoughtful and reflective in their compositions. "Eleanor Rigby" is a about loneliness. The dominant string arrangement adds to that feeling.

How we interpret the lyrics are subjective as you can discover by researching the song. It can be taken on several levels.

So here are my humble thoughts.

The first stanza is about a lonely spinster who has attended a wedding, and wishes she could marry:

"Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been,
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?"

The second stanza reflects on the emptiness, or apathy, toward religion by the church and worshippers:

"Father Mckenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near.
Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care?"

And in the final stanza the woman has died and no one attended her funeral that was apparently officiated by Father Mckenzie.

"Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father Mckenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved"

Sometimes I think the song could be about a woman who works at the church and is secretly in love with the father -- perhaps a love that will never be consumated -- as they both are destined to lead lonely lives.

And the song ends:

"All the lonely people (ah, look at all the lonely people) 

Where do they all come from? 

All the lonely people (ah, look at all the lonely people) 

Where do they all belong?"

Oh well, like I mentioned above, the lyrics can take on a lot of meanings. How do you interpret the song?

"Eleanor Rigby" lyrics