This year, I wasn't feeling inspired. I hadn't a shred of an idea for the song until the day before our annual tradition was set to commence. I holed up in my studio for a bit and tinkered with a few melodies until I had a tiny skeleton tune to work with. The next day, I brought it over to Roberto's apartment with a few instruments. Since there are there are precious few recording studios left in San Francisco, we recorded in a half-empty flat in the Mission - somewhat mirroring the 'no room at the Inn' story of the first Christmas. We put the sounds together one by one, and once the beat was in motion I pulled images from Christmastime to juxtapose them with feelings of the 'other' or outsider in the lyrics. Sure enough, the song came to life, and we were giddy as elves.
It's such a simple thing, but we take great delight in it... and isn't that what Christmas is all about?
Merry Christmas to All!
lyrics
Waking up for Christmas
hope I'm not too late
hope there's still
time to celebrate
presents have been opened
underneath the tree
did they leave
any one for me?
Then - all is quiet
so you hoof to the ball
but there's dress code required
you don't meet it at all
so you feel...
This Christmas Time is Too Real
This Christmas Time is Too Real
I hear voices singing
pretty good harmony
sounds like it's about
two turtle doves
someone says they're bringing
home a Christmas tree
my hands go numb
in fingerless gloves
then - Snowball fight!
you throw your curveball
but you are disqualified
you can't play anymore
so you feel...
This Christmas Time is Too Real
This Christmas Time is Too Real
so they say it's Christmas
Oh so merrily
as they pass the hors' d'voures
right by me
couldn't help but notice
couldn't help but see
there might be some leftovers for me...
In the yule tide,
you will try your luck sneaking
one miniscule bite,
it gets stuck to your hand
so you feel...
This Christmas Time is Too Real
This Christmas Time is Too Real
Merry Christmas, baby
hope it treats you nice
cozy where the snow falls,
safe from the cold and ice
Merry Christmas, baby
hope it treats you nice
cozy where the snow falls,
safe from the cold and ice
Merry Christmas, baby
hope it treats you nice
cozy where the snow falls,
safe from the cold and ice
...
credits
from Haulerdaze,
track released December 22, 2017
'Christmas in Real Time'
Music & Lyrics by Luke Sweeney
All Instrumentation and Vocals by Luke Sweeney,
except organ intro by Robin MacMillan
Engineered & Mixed by Roberto Pagano
Produced by Roberto Pagano & Luke Sweeney
Mastered by Robin MacMillan
(c) & (p) 2017 Serious Sailboater Songs (ASCAP).
All Rights Reserved.
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