Wow, I only just found out about this topic and I’ve enjoyed everyone’s videos. Well done all! Very inspiring.
I’m hoping to post something too in the next few days. I’m currently focusing on tomorrow’s OM.
@JohnnyW well done for your first avoyp. I love that carol.
@Silvia80 it’s great to hear a song in Italian too. Love it.
@AJSki2fly nice one !!!
@Silvia80 Never heard this one before 
as always nicely played ! ( now the song is stuck in my head XD )
@erionstrings I just cant wait to hear your performance in the OM and in the Christmas topic 
Great playing and singing. We enjoyed listening to the song with the family. It’s a beautiful song. My daughter is learning Italian and explained the lyrics to us. Thank you very much for your take.
Merry Christmas dear Silvia
That’s a version I’ve not noticed before. I must admit it grew on my as I listened through. Nice performance Adrian. Merry Christmas!
@erionstrings Thanks Erion for your kind words
@AJSki2fly Very original version of a traditional favourite, nicely played.
@Silvia80 Sorry, I have no Italian but what a lovely festive song ,well played and sung.
Thanks Johnny, was fun to do and forced me to focus more on rhythm/timing which is my nemesis.
I was at the local open mic last night and a visitor from Exeter played a Christmas song he had just written. I liked it and after the gig, asked if it was anywhere online, so I could learn it.
He hadn’t recorded it yet, but it turns out he’s a songwriter, and I found another one on his website, Father Christmas 
I had to figure out the chords (very roughly, with many shortcuts), change key, alter a couple of lyrics, redo the bridge, learn and record…
In record time! 
Merry Christmas again! 
*Sartorial explanation- I’m off to a 'World Music’ party with a bunch of refugees I teach English to
I was born in a stable. I gave you forgiveness
Time was not able to find me a witness
And it’s hard to admit that I might not exist
For my name, for my name is
Father Christmas
I don’t expect you to believe in me, just that you be good
I write the recipe, and you are the cook
Do unto others, as you’d have them do to you
Kindness is simple- no need to be confused
And it’s time to admit I might not exist.
For my name, for my name is
Father Christmas.
Light a fire in your heart like the hearth in your home.
The truth is: none of us are alone
Come all you poets, and healers, and priests
Move a step closer to blessed release
Open your heart. Set free your beliefs.
There’s no need to be lieve in
Father Christmas
Recording a singer songwriters song before he has? Is that what you call Larseny? 
Seriously, well done Brian, an impressive bit of transcribing.
How nice to read! 
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Some confusion there between father Christmas (the plump old guy in red from an old Coca Cola advert) and the child who was born in a stable, whom Christmas is really about.
Hi my fellow Justineer’s
Well here is my contribution to the 2025 Christmas songs.
This is one of my all time favorite traditional Christmas carols.
It is a very old hymn probably written in the 12th century and finally translated to English in 1880ish.
I hope you enjoy my version of this Carol.
Merry Christmas to you all
Very well researched and transcribed and performed, and even in record time, Brian!
Thanks a lot, and I like the message!
It’s nice to have that broad range of traditional and very old songs and “more modern” songs.
I looked up your songwriter and was surprised by the vocals and polished production (sounds like “pop” music) in contrast to your acoustic folky performance, but anyway this guy sounds really nice too.
What a nice christmas song performance! Thank you very much, Ron!
Haha, that’s a bit harsh, Erion
Father Christmas in England was traditionally the ‘personification’ of Christmas.
St. Nicholas is venerated in many countries, (esp. Holland) but morphed into American Santa Claus in the 19th century to become the Coke pusher kids now know and love. I suspect if you lifted the beard, you’d find Jeff Bezos’ face beaming underneath…
If I was going to pick holes in Christmas confusion, I’d start with Angels and Magi descending upon Bethlehem to witness virgins giving birth to deities, but I digress 
For me the message in this song is
“You don’t need Father Christmas. Just be kind/good.”
(I’m still looking forward to my pressies though 
)
Have a good one.
Nice one @RonG I usually only hear this in choral form.
@domi7 Cheers for the listen and comment.
Yes, I’ve only glanced at some of his other songs, but am weirdly attracted to them, as it’s not my usual cup of meat…
He left a generous comment on YT and sent me a nice email.
Brian Larsen- friend and fan of little stars…
Ron, a superb song for Christmas. Merry Christmas to you.
I’m sorry it came across as harsh to you Brian. I meant what I said. I’m sure you’re aware that Christmas is a Christian festivity (the name gives it away). It has been made into a super commercialised occurrence because of human greed and love of money, but in its essence is about the birth of the son of God in human form (for Christians).
As a Christian I felt prompted to address the confusion of the author of the song you chose to present in this thread because I found the lyrics quite harsh (to put it mildly). There’s nothing in common about “father Christmas” or Santa Claus, or whatever people around the world call the old guy in red, and the person of Jesus, who Christians celebrate at Christmas.
Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and I respect yours. I hope you can respect mine too.
Good effort with the song btw.
For the sake of keeping this thread focused on music, feel free to reach out to me in private if you want to discuss this further. I love a good healthy debate.
no religion talk please , its in the guide lines
this thread is about sharing music in any form or style, not talking about personal religious beliefs !
I hope you don’t doubt in this, I think we all here try to understand each other.
As I see it, that song just states the writer’s own troubles, like mixing old traditions with christianism and saints which lead to confusion for a lot of people.
For me the message sounded like “just be good, whatever you might believe in”
Please do continue any additional conversation in direct messaging.
Be good now and at all times.
As the Boss once sang, ‘he knows whose been naughty he knows whose been nice’.
Here is an interesting video about Christmas Songs.
Father Christmas @brianlarsen
Well done on this song and bringing it to our attention. Personally I identify more with the traditional but this topic continues to throw up some interesting more modern takes on festive songs.
Meanwhile
@RonG thank you so much for your
I could listen to that one every day for the next couple of weeks.
Truly exceptional.