The ELP sound is dominated by the Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer of the flamboyant Emerson. The band's compositions are heavily influenced by classical music in addition to jazz and – at least in their early years – hard rock. Many of their pieces are arrangements of, or contain quotations from, classical music, and they can be said to fit into the sub-genre of symphonic rock. However, Lake ensured that their albums contained a regular stream of simple, accessible acoustic ballads, many of which received heavy radio airplay. Lake, besides providing vocals, bass guitar, electric guitar and lyrics, also produced the band's first five albums.
On two occasions in 1969, The Nice (with Keith Emerson on keyboards) and King Crimson (with Greg Lake on vocals and bass) shared the same venue, first on 10th August 1969 at the 9th Jazz and Blues Pop Festival in Plumpton, England, and on 17th October 1969 at Fairfield Hall in Croydon, England. After playing at a few of the same concerts, Emerson and Lake tried working together and found their styles to be not only compatible but complementary. Emerson wanted to make the "best damned three-piece band in the world", and thought the line-up of The Nice (keyboard, bass, drums) was the way to go.
Before settling on drummer Carl Palmer (formerly Atomic Rooster, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown), they approached Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience; Mitchell was uninterested but passed the idea to Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix, tired of his band and wanting to try something different, expressed an interest in playing with the group; the British press, after hearing about this, speculated that such a supergroup would have been called "Hendrix, Emerson, Lake & Palmer", or HELP. Due to scheduling conflicts such plans were not immediately realised, but the initial three planned on a jam session with Hendrix after their début at the Isle of Wight Festival, with the possibility of him joining. Hendrix died shortly thereafter, so the three pressed on as Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
Their first four years were a creatively fertile period. Lake produced their first six albums, starting with Emerson, Lake and Palmer (1970), which contained the hit "Lucky Man" featuring Emerson's first experiments with Moog. Tarkus (1971) was their first successful concept album, described as a story about "reverse evolution". The March 1971 live recording (Newcastle, U.K.) of the band's interpretation of Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition was issued as a low-priced record, the success of which contributed to the band's overall popularity. The 1972 album Trilogy contained ELP's best-selling single to date, the understated "From the Beginning".
In late 1973 Brain Salad Surgery, with an eye-catching sleeve designed by H.R. Giger, was released and became the band's best-known studio album. The lyrics were partly written by Peter Sinfield, who was the creator of the King Crimson concept and lyricist for their first four albums. The subsequent world tours were documented with a massive three-LP live recording, "Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends".
Their best known early performance had been a relatively modest show at the August 1970 Isle of Wight Festival, one of the last of the great Woodstock-era festivals. At the end of their set, Emerson and Lake lit two cannons either side of the stage. By April 1974, ELP were joint headliners of the California Jam Festival, and completed the concert when co-stars Deep Purple elected to go on stage first. ELP's California Jam performance was broadcast nationwide in the US and is often seen as the summit of the band's career.
After taking a break, the band began working with an orchestra and released Works Volume 1 in 1977 to mixed reviews. The album contained the band's signature tune, "Fanfare for the Common Man", reaching number two in the British charts. However, punk rock had began influencing the music scene, and the progressive rock giants of the time were suffering as a result. Rifts within the band were beginning to show, and the following albums, Works Volume 2 and Love Beach (one released in 1977,the other in 1978) were mainly made to finish their record contract. They released Works Live in 1979 with the orchestra, but touring was overly expensive and so the orchestra were dropped half way through the tour.
The band split in 1979, with each member doing his own thing. Carl Palmer joined Asia and had commercial success. In 1985 Emerson and Lake wanted to reform, but with Palmer in Asia, they tried out other drummers such as Simon Phillips, but settled on Cozy Powell. Emerson, Lake & Powell released one self-titled album in 1986.
Since then the original ELP have reformed in 1991 and released two studio albums: Black Moon (1992) and In the Hot Seat (1994). Neither albums were critically acclaimed, but the band still managed to sell out venues as they toured the world. The band split again in 1998.
On 25 July 2010, ELP reunited for a single show to commemorate their 40th anniversary. But this reunion was only to celebrate their anniversary and after that show they split again in 2010.
Emerson died on 11 March 2016 in Santa Monica, California, of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His body was found at his Santa Monica home. Following an autopsy, the medical examiner ruled Emerson's death a suicide, and concluded that he had also suffered from heart disease and from depression associated with alcohol. According to Emerson's girlfriend Mari Kawaguchi, Emerson had become "depressed, nervous and anxious" because nerve damage had hampered his playing, and he was worried that he would perform poorly at upcoming concerts and disappoint his fans.
Lake died in London on 7 December 2016, at the age of 69, after suffering from cancer. His manager announced the news on Twitter, describing Lake's battle with the illness as "long and stubborn". Numerous fellow musicians paid tribute, including Rick Wakeman, Steve Hackett, Ringo Starr, John Wetton, and ELP drummer Carl Palmer. With Lake's death and that of Keith Emerson earlier in 2016, Palmer is the last surviving member of the group.
I Believe in Father Christmas
Emerson Lake & Palmer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They said there'll be peace on Earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the Virgin birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winter's light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree's smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a Silent Night
They told me a fairy story
'Till I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in Father Christmas
I looked to the sky with excited eyes
'Till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise
I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave New Year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on Earth
Hallelujah Noel be it Heaven or Hell
The Christmas we get we deserve
The song "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Emerson, Lake and Palmer is a poignant reflection on the meaning of Christmas. The opening lines of the song are ironic, as they describe the contradiction between the idealistic promises of Christmas and the reality of a world plagued by war and suffering. The lyrics "They said there'll be snow at Christmas, they said there'll be peace on Earth, but instead it just kept on raining, a veil of tears for the Virgin birth" create a powerful contrast that highlights the failure of mankind in living up to the promise of the holiday season.
The song then turns to the personal experience of the singer, who remembers a Christmas morning from his childhood. The imagery of "a winter's light and a distant choir, and the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree's smell, and their eyes full of tinsel and fire" creates a nostalgic and sentimental mood, reminding the listener of the magic and wonder of Christmas. However, the nostalgia is tempered by the realization that the joy of the holiday was based on a lie. The singer "believed in Father Christmas" and "looked to the sky with excited eyes, 'till [he] woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn" and found out that there was no magical gift giver, only the reality of a world that is often cruel and disappointing.
The song concludes with a message of hope for the future, as the singer wishes the listener a "hopeful Christmas" and a "brave New Year", expressing the desire to leave behind the pain and sadness of the past and embrace a brighter future. However, the final line of the song, "the Christmas we get we deserve", suggests that the holiday is not just about receiving gifts and being happy, but about taking responsibility for our actions and working to create a world that is more just and compassionate.
Line by Line Meaning
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
Promising snow during Christmas as a sign of its arrival.
They said there'll be peace on Earth
Promising world peace as a symbolic part of the holiday.
But instead it just kept on raining
Contrasting reality with the promised outcome.
A veil of tears for the Virgin birth
Referencing sadness over the birth of Jesus and a sign of how things are not always joyful, even in religious contexts.
I remember one Christmas morning
Recalling a specific moment in time that highlights the holiday spirit.
A winter's light and a distant choir
Setting the scene of a picturesque holiday morning.
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree's smell
Evoking sensory memories of the holidays.
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
Describing the joy and excitement seen in children's eyes during Christmas.
They sold me a dream of Christmas
Using Christmas as a way to create high expectations and an idealized image of the holiday.
They sold me a Silent Night
Promising a peaceful and quiet night which is not always the case.
They told me a fairy story
Implanting unrealistic beliefs and fantasy ideas in one's mind.
'Till I believed in the Israelite
Accepting religious ideas that may not hold up to reality.
And I believed in Father Christmas
Fascination and admiration for the legendary figure of Christmas.
I looked to the sky with excited eyes
Anticipation and hope for the arrival of Father Christmas.
'Till I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
The harsh awakening to reality setting in after the holiday.
And I saw him and through his disguise
Understanding who Father Christmas really is and accepting it.
I wish you a hopeful Christmas
Wishing the best for all during the holiday season.
I wish you a brave New Year
A courageous outlook for the upcoming year.
All anguish pain and sadness
A message of hope for an end to negative emotions during the holiday season.
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
A motivational message to stay positive and take control of one's future.
Hallelujah Noel be it Heaven or Hell
Positive vibes for a good holiday season despite potential adversity.
The Christmas we get we deserve
Implying that the quality of the holiday season is a reflection of one's actions, thoughts, and beliefs throughout the year.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Greg Lake, Peter John Sinfield, Serge Prokofieff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Denis468
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the virgin birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winter's light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a silent night
And they told me a fairy story
'Til I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in father Christmas
I looked to the sky with excited eyes
That I woke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise
I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave new year
All anguish, pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there'd be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on earth
Hallelujah, Noel be it heaven or hell
The Christmas we get we deserve
@ianmatthews4672
The Christmas we get WE DESERVE !!
WE ARE BLIND FOLLOWERS OF HEINOUS VILE CORRUPT GOVS ..
WE SMILE AND LOOK THE OTHER WAY BUYING THEIR LIES FOR ONE MORE DAY OF TRICKERY BECAUSE WE feel blessed.
It's all fake - just as Greg was illustrating .
You buy the beauty of the song and allow the bombs to destroy at the same time.
They sold you a Dream of Christmas ( of life in fact )
This song like John Cougars " Pink Houses "
" little pink houses for you and me "
" it's the simple man baby that pays the bills " ( taxes)
Pay the bills that KILL"
We get the dreams they sell us as millions die at our ignorant hands
Fools Gold - false hopes
Daydreams and make believes
While you sit in the sun
Sipping spritzers vodka and New England Iced tea
You
@stussyhuff
Yes it's Christmas 2023.. Anyone listning.. ❤
@joseizquierdo1008
Nobody, the dogs of war are loose nobody listens to the cries and bombs
@stussyhuff
@@joseizquierdo1008
My you are offended 🤡
@chrislapp9468
been listening since '75..🎄
@kappy4493
enjoy your holidays and your life!
@stussyhuff
@@kappy4493
I have a great life. Thank you ❤️
@pegitamg9716
It's my miracle song. I suffered a miscarriage on Christmas Eve. At the hospital they confirmed this and scheduled a d&c for later that morning. I was set up to start the procedure when the doctor examining me said "you're still pregnant!" Say what? I guess it was twins and only one died. The other was born on7/4/86!
@p.moorewilson7917
Boy, this song sure resonates in December 2023… 😔💕🎄
@GuyE.
You never spoke a truer word.
@markcf83
More than ever.....