Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)

Subject: Lyr Req: John Conolly Christmas Song I am Xmas
From: Beer
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 10:28 PM

This song was mentioned in a previous thread but no one followed up on it. Would some kind heart happen to have the lyrics to this magnificent song? I have searched and searched but with no luck.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Conolly Christmas Song I am Xmas
From: maeve
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 11:10 PM

Adrien, I see an offer to forward a request to John Conolly for lyrics and chords at this Youtube link to his song,
"I Am Christmas"
Mr. Conolly himself gives a contact email address at his MySpace page, here: http://www.myspace.com/johnconolly I'll send you a PM with that address.

It is a lovely song. If you haven't time to pursue it let me know.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Conolly Christmas Song I am Xmas
From: maeve
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 11:41 PM

I've transcribed it and sent it in a PM, Adrien. I don't want to post it here unless Mr. Conolly doesn't mind, and until we're sure I have the words down correctly.

Maeve

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Conolly Christmas Song I am Xmas
From: Beer
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 11:49 PM

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I will sing it tomorrow at a family gathering.
And John, if you are about, I hope you don't mind.
Thank you maeve.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Conolly Christmas Song I am Xmas
From: maeve
Date: 25 Dec 10 - 11:58 PM

Adrien, it is my pleasure. What a fine song! Thank you for writing it, John Conolly.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Conolly Christmas Song I am Xmas
From: GUEST,old git
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 09:27 AM

Bill Meek wrote the words. John added the tune. Great song..probably my all-time favourite Xmas song
geoff t

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Conolly Christmas Song I am Xmas
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 09:45 AM

Indeed Geoff. Wonderful Christmas song.
Les

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: John Conolly Christmas Song I am Xmas
From: maeve
Date: 26 Dec 10 - 10:17 AM

Thank you, Geoff, for the additional information properly crediting Bill Meek as the author of the lyrics, and John Conolly as the composer of "I Am Christmas". Digging further on the MySpace information I can see references to Mr. Meeker and Mr Conolly having created it together. That's important information.

I'll make that correction on my transcription and will try to contact one of the other in hopes of double checking both my transcription and requesting permission to post it here. Yes, I know lots of folks post lyrics without asking first. I don't.

Great song!

Maeve

Subject: Lyr Add: I AM CHRISTMAS (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Dec 10 - 03:02 PM

Very few songwriters object to having their lyrics posted here, or elsewhere. If they do object, Joe can always remove them.

My transcription for the video at YouTube. (Thanks to Maeve for the link.)


I AM CHRISTMAS
Bill Meek, John Conolly

1. I will sew a braid of gold
On gray December's ragged sleeve,
Teach the crabbed and jaded soul
How to give, how to receive;
For rooms are thick with magic now,
The tree its soft light throwing;
The mistletoe, the holly bough
My age-old spell bestowing.

2. For I bring stories by the hearth,
Delight in half-forgotten names,
Apple logs on fragrant fires
With flick'ring faces in the flames.
As the year draws in its days
And tired leaves are falling,
I will brighten darkened ways
Where dusk is early calling.

CHORUS: I am warmth and I am light
And I am kith and kin,
A candle in your longest night.
I am Christmas. Let me in.
I am Christmas. Let me in.

3. I can take the weary miles
And weave a carpet to your door,
Guide the dusty wand'rers home
Safely to your side once more.
I can cheer the bitter days
With tunes to set you singing.
My standard in your heart I'll raise,
Joy and comfort bringing. CHORUS.

4. I bring churches all aglow
And carols on the midnight air,
Colored windows streaked with snow
That gild the congregations there;
For young and old shall join and sing
To mark the longest turning.
From one glad candle that I bring,
Ten thousand more are burning. CHORUS.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: Beer
Date: 30 Dec 10 - 03:24 PM

Sang it and was greatly appreciated.
Ad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: maeve
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 02:07 PM

Jim Dixon did a fine job with his transcription. The following was just emailed to me by John Conolly, with his and Bill Meek's permission to post it here. The differences are largely stylistic.

Maeve
*********************************************************************
          I AM CHRISTMAS (Bill Meek & John Conolly) With permission

I will sew a braid of gold on grey December's ragged sleeve –
Teach the crabbed and jaded soul how to give – how to receive..
For rooms are thick with magic now– the Tree its soft light throwing. .
The mistletoe – the holly-bough – my age-old spell bestowing . .

I bring stories by the hearth - delight in half-forgotten names –
Apple-logs on fragrant fires, with flickering faces in the flames . .
As the year draws in its days and tired leaves are falling –
I can brighten darkened ways, where dusk is early calling . . .


CHORUS: I am warmth and I am light
                And I am Kith and Kin . . .
                A candle in your longest night –
                I am Christmas – let me in . . .
                I am Christmas – let me in.

I can take the weary miles, and weave a carpet to your door –
Guide the dusty wanderer home – safely to your side once more ..
I can cheer the bitter days, with tunes to set you singing –
My standard in your heart I'll raise – joy and comfort bringing . .

CHORUS

I bring churches all aglow, and carols on the midnight air -
Coloured windows streaked with snow, that gild the congregation there. . .
For young and old shall join and sing, to mark the long year's turning-
From one glad candle that I bring, ten thousand more are burning . .

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: ClaireBear
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 02:13 PM

"Wow" ... the sound of an awe-struck would-be lyricist knowing she will never write anything remotely as good as this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: bradfordian
Date: 22 Dec 11 - 05:17 AM

Heard this song last night at our folk club Christmas party.
An excellent composition from Bill and John.

It's on Johns CD:

Grumpy Old Men CD

Also on youtube

bradfordian

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: GUEST,Bob G
Date: 13 Nov 14 - 05:31 PM

Has anyone identified the chords for this top Christmas song please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: GUEST,John S
Date: 23 Dec 14 - 12:41 PM

saw JC the other night when he sang this song...does anyone have chords?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Dec 14 - 06:57 AM

Had a listen and this seems to fit

A       E      D       A       D       A       Bm      E
I will sew a braid of gold on grey December's ragged sleeve –
A          E         D    A    D      A         E      A
Teach the crabbed and jaded soul how to give – how to receive..
    E                   A             D       A      
For rooms are thick with magic now– the Tree its soft light
    E
throwing. .
    A               D    A         A       A       E   A
The mistletoe – the holly-bough – my age-old spell bestowing . .

I bring stories by the hearth - delight in half-forgotten names –
Apple-logs on fragrant fires, with flickering faces in the flames . .
As the year draws in its days and tired leaves are falling –
I can brighten darkened ways, where dusk is early calling . . .


             E          D    A   
CHORUS: I am warmth and I am light
                   D    A       E   
                And I am Kith and Kin . . .
                   A             D       A
                A candle in your longest night –
                D    A          E
                I am Christmas – let me in . . .
                D    A          E      A
                I am Christmas – let me in.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 24 Dec 14 - 07:12 AM

John Connolly. A true son of Cleethorpes and, as I recall, a dashed nice chap.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Dec 23 - 05:44 PM

https://www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk/music/article/i-am-christmas

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Christmas (Bill Meek, John Conolly)
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 19 Dec 23 - 03:43 AM

A lovely version here by the Sheffield Folk Chorale.