I Believe in Father Christmas
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| "I Believe In Father Christmas" | ||
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| Single by Greg Lake | ||
| B-side(s) | Humbug | |
| Released | 1974 (UK) | |
| Format | CD | |
| Recorded | 1974 | |
| Genre | Progressive Rock | |
| Length | 3:32 | |
| Label | Atlantic Records | |
| Writer(s) | Greg Lake / Peter Sinfield | |
| Chart positions | ||
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I Believe In Father Christmas is a song by Greg Lake (most famously a member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer ). Although it is often categorised as a Christmas song this was not Lake's intention. It is widely believed that Lake wrote the song in protest at the commercialization of Christmas and its effect on the middle east. Lake spent several months in this area and this may have been what inspired him to write the song.
The song is often mis-interpreted as an anti-religious song and, because of this, Lake was surprised at its success. He said in a Mojo magazine interview "I find it appalling when people say it's politically incorrect to talk about Christmas, you've got to talk about 'The Holiday Season.' Christmas was a time of family warmth and love. There was a feeling of forgiveness, acceptance. And I do believe in Father Christmas."
The song was recorded by Lake in 1974 and released separately from ELP, it is currently his only hit solo release. The original later appeared on the group's 1977 album Works Volume II. It has also appeared on several other ELP and Christmas compilation albums. Mostly notable of these re-releases is the 1995 album titled I Believe In Father Christmas which also featured a re-recorded version of the song by the whole band.
The video for this song contains shots of the Vietnam War which has led to complaints from some that it should not be shown with light-hearted Christmas songs. These images (such as dozens of rockets being launched from an apache helicopter) are a violent backdrop to a peaceful sounding song - creating a hard-hitting message.
The instrumental riff between verses comes from the "Troika" portion of Sergei Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije Suite" written for a 1934 film.
