We (Cottenham Community Centre Coffeeshop Collective) were discussing Christmas concepts: the nostalgia, the sentimentality, the commercialisation, the childrens’ awe and excitement, the often-forgotten underlying message (whether you’re religious or not) of peace, love and understanding. The working title of the song as I pulled together the lyrics from our ideas was “The present is a gift”, but I’ve simplified that and so it’s just called “Christmas Present”…grab a glass of mulled wine/fruit punch and a mince pie and settle in.
Christmas Present
Do you remember…waiting for the snow, to fall?
Do you remember…waiting for Santa’s call?
Do you remember…the Salvation Army Choir?
Do you remember…chestnuts roasting on an open fire?
Oh, now, we beseech you to stir and makes us wise
Oh come, won’t you ‘waken and open up our eyes?
Do you remember…the words of those good ol’ songs?
Do you remember…the times when rights were wrongs?
Oh Lord, we beseech you to stir and makes us wise
Oh please won’t you wake and open up our eyes?
Now’s the time to change your mind
Stir your heart, feel love divine
The Christmas past is now long gone
The present time, a gift so strong
(Wrap it up and keep your heart warm)
Do you remember…the carols round the tree?
Do you remember…a time when all were free?
While there’s still time to change your mind
Stir your heart, let love inspire
The Christmas past is now long gone
The present time all we belong
This is really just a demo and I’ve hopefully left some musical space for the others in the Cottenham Community Centre Coffeeshop Collective to add their vocals, percussion and classical guitar to the CCCCC Christmas Carol. Watch out for a new mix nearer to Xmas…
