In the late 1940s a rising demand for blues was driven by an increasing white teenage audience in the South which quickly spread north and west. Blues shouters got the attention, but also greatly influential was what writer Charles Keil dubbs "the postwar Texas clean-up movement in blues" led by stylists such as T-Bone Walker, Amos Milburn and Charles Brown. Their singing was lighter, more relaxed and they worked with bands and combos that had saxophone sections and used arrangements.
As a child Brown demonstrated his love of music and took classical piano lessons. Early on, Brown moved out to Los Angeles, where the great influx of blacks created an integrated nightclub scene in which black performers tended to minimize the rougher blues elements of their style. The blues club style of a light rhythm bass and right-hand tinkling of the piano and smooth vocals became popular, epitomized by the jazz piano of Nat King Cole. When Cole left Los Angeles to perform nationally, his place was taken by Johnny Moore's Three Blazers, featuring Charles Brown's gentle piano and vocals.
Brown signed with Aladdin Records and his 1945 recording on that label of the bestseller "Driftin' Blues" with a small combo was a typical club blues song. The single was on the R&B charts for six months, putting Brown at the forefront of a musical evolution that changed American musical performance. His style dominated the influential Southern California club scene on Central Avenue during that period and he influenced such performers as Floyd Dixon, Cecil Gant, Ivory Joe Hunter, Percy Mayfield, Johnny Ace and Ray Charles.
"Driftin'" was the first of several hits Brown subsequently released "Get Yourself Another Fool", "Black Night", "Hard Times" and "Trouble Blues", all major hits in the early 1950s on such labels as Modern Records as well as Alladin. He was unable to compete with the burgeoning rock and roll sound, though he maintained a small and devoted audience.
Brown's approach was too mellow to survive the transition to rock's harsher rhythms, and he faded from the national limelight. His Please Come Home for Christmas, a hit in 1960 on the King Records remained seasonally popular. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, he occasionally recorded and tried to regain some prominence. This continued until the 1980s, when Bonnie Raitt helped usher in a Charles Brown comeback tour.
He began a recording and performing career again, under the musical direction of guitarist Danny Caron, to greater success than he had achieved since the 1950s. Several records received Grammy Award nominations.
He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and received both the National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship and the W. C. Handy Award.
Brown died in 1999 in Oakland, California.
.
Christmas Comes But Once a Year
Charles Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh I'm so happy
My kids are happy too
It's take the next six months to pay my bills
When I think about it folks it gives me chills
But I don't care cause Christmas comes but once a year
To have myself a ball
Im going out partying
Gonna dance to every call
I'm gonna think about new years day
I don't care what i have to pay
Let the good times roll
Cause Christmas comes but once a year
The lyrics of Charles Brown's song Christmas Comes But Once a Year reflect the joy, exuberance and excitement that come along with the festive season. The song starts on an optimistic note with the singer expressing his happiness that Christmas time has arrived, and he and his kids are happy. However, the mood turns somber when he talks about how he will take the next six months to pay his bills and how it gives him chills just thinking about it. But despite his financial concerns, he doesn't care because Christmas comes but once a year, and it's worth celebrating no matter what.
In the second half of the song, the singer talks about how he's going to have himself a ball, going out partying and dancing to every call. He doesn't care what he has to pay because he is going to think about New Year's Day and enjoy the good times. The underlying theme of the song seems to be that though Christmas may bring financial strain, it also brings immense joy and fun, which is more important than money.
Line by Line Meaning
Christmas time comes but once a year
The annual holiday of Christmas only occurs once every year.
Oh I'm so happy
The singer is expressing their joy for the Christmas season.
My kids are happy too
The singer's children are also happy during the Christmas season.
It's take the next six months to pay my bills
The singer has spent a significant amount of money on Christmas and will need six months to pay off the bills.
When I think about it folks it gives me chills
The thought of the large amount of debt caused by Christmas spending makes the singer feel anxious.
But I don't care cause Christmas comes but once a year
Despite the financial strain caused by Christmas, the singer still values the holiday and looks forward to it each year.
I'm gettin' ready people
The singer is preparing for the festivities of the holiday season.
To have myself a ball
The singer is excited to have a great time during the holiday season.
Im going out partying
The singer is planning to attend social events or parties to celebrate the holiday season.
Gonna dance to every call
The singer plans to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the holiday season by dancing to music and enjoying themselves.
I'm gonna think about new years day
The singer is looking forward to New Year's Day, which comes after the Christmas holiday.
I don't care what i have to pay
The singer is willing to spend money to enjoy themselves during the holiday season.
Let the good times roll
The singer is encouraging others to fully enjoy themselves during the holiday season.
Cause Christmas comes but once a year
The singer believes that the special nature of Christmas justifies the expenses and hard work that come with it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CARLIN AMERICA INC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: IRVING TAYLOR, GEORGE CATES, ROBERT THIELE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind