Joe Solo and The Hatfield Brigade - 'Merry Christmas From Hatfield Main'

Here's the story behind the song, from Joe Solo

facebook, Weds 21st December at 21:16

On September 9th Leslie Moore asked me to write a Christmas song to help the Hatfield Brigade raise some much-needed cash to help local people struggling to make ends meet under austerity.

The next night I sent him back this lyric:

It's Christmas time,
But you'd never know it
There's too many homes round here
Where Santa don't call
Where cupboards are almost bare
But you still find hope out there
Cos people round here will share
And catch you if you fall

And just like that Christmas time
Down on the picket line
Never be beaten
By the sleet and snow and rain
And just like them Christmas lights
Keep your fire burning bright
And fight for each other
Sister and brother
One in the same
Merry Christmas from Hatfield Main

As long as I live I swear
I'll always remember
The kindness of strangers then
Back in 84
Who saw we had next to nowt
But who chipped in and helped us out
And gave us a Christmas night
Like never before

And just like that Christmas time
Down on the picket line
Never be beaten
By the sleet and snow and rain
And just like them Christmas lights
Keep your fire burning bright
And fight for each other
Sister and brother
One in the same
Merry Christmas from Hatfield Main

I told him I'd record it at the weekend, which I did, then said I needed him and The Brigade to sing on it. We did that on October 30th.

The rest you know.

It has been an incredible journey and one I'll never forget. Most of the way I marched with both Les, Peter Stefanovic, Mick Lanaghan, Gary Cox, Pete Martin, Michael Lee Toas and we felt like we had the whole community at our back. It has been brilliant start to finish.

Tomorrow at midnight our quest ends. To be honest we look like we will miss out on #xmasno1 by something like 109,000 sales because, quite simply, just not enough people bought it, but that only tells a part of the story. The joy this song has given people is immeasurable and I wouldn't swap that for a number one single any day of the week.

Massive thanks to everyone for the support and the downloads and the messages and comments. You have all of you given us a skip in our step and made the whole thing worthwhile.

Still time.....if 109,000 of you get on it tonight.

Stranger things have happened.

Just not many.