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My Own Song For Christmas

from My Own Song For Christmas by TA Walker

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A slightly tongue-in-cheek tribute to the BBC's annual "Song For Christmas" songwriting competition, which they ran from the late 70s to the early 90s on weekday lunchtimes leading up to the festive season. It was open to children of school age, and almost invariably featured somewhat inane ditties, sung earnestly by their young composers (and perhaps their schoolmates) and featuring lyrics about presents under the tree, world peace and the usual complement of Christmas topics (though not always the ones you'd expect to hear). Its most notable alumnus is probably Gary Barlow, who at 15 was a runner-up in the 1986 competition... but I'll leave it there - I think you get the idea!

For some reason, there's always been a nagging regret that by the time I had begun writing songs, I was (a) too old to enter SFC, and (b) the BBC had stopped running it by then anyway. It wasn't that I had any intention to write a typical SFC song entry - quite the reverse, in that I wanted to enter the kind of song that I wanted to hear on the competition! My first attempt to write "the song I'd have entered if I could" was "Shelter" in 1994 (I'll re-record this one one day, as I still think it's a good effort), but I fancied having another go, so here is Go No. 2, where I have a try at assembling a Christmas Song By Numbers for the now-departed competition...

lyrics

You remember that show, on TV years ago
They called it "A Song For Christmas"
My classmates and I longed to give it a try
Then it stopped - opportunity missed us
Many times round the sun, our sad planet has spun
But a longing of mine still shines clear
Though the show has retired to the invisible choir
But I won't let that stop me this year...

Now I'm writing my own Song For Christmas
And I know I would win it with ease
'Cos I've finally cracked The Formula
Of the big festive hit recipes

You start with the tinkling of sleigh-bells
And throw in some descending chimes
A heavenly choir if you've got one around
To signal that it's Christmas time
Obligatory reference to snowfall
Though we've not had the real thing in years
Of faces aglow, Santa Claus on his sleigh
And how this is no time for tears

Yes, I’m writing my own Song For Christmas
And I hope that you like it so far
Maybe soon I’ll get on “The X Factor”
‘Cos at Christmas we need one more star...

[instrumental]

I've been working my way down the checklist
So everything's included there
There's mince pies, the Queen's Speech and Rudolph
And knitted red jumpers to wear
A vague recollection still haunts through my mind
Not a ghost tale, but a story I knew
A star up above, a baby lying on straw...
...oh, why not - let's put them in too!

So please play my own Song For Christmas
Whilst roasting that big gammon joint
I'll dream of the trophy I’d win for this song
And hope that I don't miss the point
I'll dream of the trophy I’d win for this song
And hope that I don’t miss the point

credits

from My Own Song For Christmas, track released December 15, 2012
TA Walker: vocals, guitalele, acoustic 6- and 12-string and electric guitars, guitar synth, keyboards, bass guitar, drums, percussion

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TA Walker UK

Guitarist/multi-instrumentalist, composer and songwriter, often with "electronica", "lo-fi" and "prog" inclinations.

Um... will that do?

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