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.
.
Merry Christmas Baby
Charles Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Merry Christmas, baby, sure you did treat me nice
Gave me a diamond ring for Christmas
Now I'm living in paradise
Now I'm feelin' mighty fine, got good music on my radio
Well, I'm feelin' mighty fine, I got all that good music on my radio
Well, I want to kiss you, babyWhile you're standing beneath the mistletoe
Saint Nick came down the chimney
About half past three
Left all these pretty presents
That you see before me
Merry Christmas, pretty baby
You sure been good to me
Well, I haven't had a drink this morning
But I'm all lit up like a Christmas tree, ooh
The lyrics to Charles Brown's "Merry Christmas Baby" express the joy and contentment the singer feels during the holiday season thanks to the love of his significant other. The opening lines of the song express gratitude for the love received during the holiday season, highlighting how special it is to receive love during this time. The singer then goes on to describe how he is feeling great enjoying the holiday season, listening to good music on his radio. He is looking forward to kissing his lover beneath the mistletoe.
The third and fourth verses of the song reference Saint Nick coming down the chimney, likely to remind listeners of the joy of gift-giving and receiving during the holidays. The song ends with the singer expressing how happy he is this holiday season, comparing his happiness to a brightly lit Christmas tree, emphasizing the joy he feels due to being loved by his significant other.
"Merry Christmas Baby" was first recorded in 1947 by Johnny Moore's Three Blazers but became widely popular when Charles Brown recorded his version in 1961. The song has been covered by over 100 artists, including Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, and Bruce Springsteen. The song was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2007.
Line by Line Meaning
Merry Christmas baby, you sure did treat me nice
It's Christmas time and my baby has been treating me well.
Ooh, merry Christmas baby, sure you did treat me nice
I'm grateful for the way you've treated me this Christmas.
Gave me that love for Christmas
Now I'm living in paradise
You gave me the best Christmas present of all - your love. And now I feel like I'm in paradise.
Now I'm feelin' mighty fine, got good music on my radio
I'm feeling great because I have good music playing on the radio.
Well, I'm feelin' mighty fine, I got all that good music on my radio
I wanna kiss you baby
While you're standing 'neath the mistletoe
With all this good music playing, I want to kiss you while we stand under the mistletoe.
Well, I wanna kiss you, Bonnie
While I'm standing here 'neath the mistletoe
I really want to kiss you right now, Bonnie, while we're standing under the mistletoe.
Saintee came down the chimney
About half past three
Left these pretty presents
That you see before me
Santa Claus came down our chimney around 3:30am and left these nice presents you see in front of me.
Ooh, Merry Christmas pretty baby
Sure your show been good to me
Merry Christmas, my beautiful baby. You've been so good to me.
I haven't had a drink this morning
I'm all lit up
I haven't even had a drink yet this morning, but I'm still feeling great and happy.
Ooh, baby, I'm all lit up
I'm all lit up, ooh, like a Christmas tree
I'm so happy and excited that I feel like I'm lit up like a Christmas tree.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lou Baxter, Johnny Dudley Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fordstrong5135
I remember my Dad playing this every Christmas morning as we opened gifts. Now it’s the soundtrack for my family on Christmas morning! Merry Christmas to all, good will to all men!
@RayfieldA
Such memories of growin up in Chicago inthe 70s and 80s, hearing this song on WGCI. 😌
@chitownstorminnormin4154
Nostalgic!!! CHI TOWN!!! Memories!!!
@kennethcraddock7604
I remember Frankie Crocker (WBLS) playing this during Xmas season. Frankie turned many of us on older music like this, now I'm older I love this stuff because I can now appreciate the greatness of it. Good, quality stuff.
@stacyn.
Gorgeous and such a lovely song.
@SuenelClement-fh3tu
I love that song it was one of the songs playing at a Christmas party on the Xmas I met my husband dancing at a Christmas party
@k.m.h7480
A juke joint Christmas, makes me ready for a lil taste
@chitownstorminnormin4154
Lol!!!
@josephalanfears1938
This Song & Please Come Home From Christmas Was The First Blues Holiday Song I Ever Heard Back In 1963 At Home Listening To It On The Family "Record Player" ? Wooo Guess Thats why I do what I do Now ? Humm ....
@rosafreitas5779
😍😍😍😍😍