Brown began his career as a gospel singer in Toccoa, Georgia. He first came to national public attention in the mid-1950s as the lead singer of the Famous Flames, a rhythm and blues vocal group founded by Bobby Byrd. With the hit ballads "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me", Brown built a reputation as a dynamic live performer with the Famous Flames and his backing band, sometimes known as the James Brown Band or the James Brown Orchestra. His success peaked in the 1960s with the live album Live at the Apollo and hit singles such as "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".
During the late 1960s, Brown moved from a continuum of blues and gospel-based forms and styles to a profoundly "Africanized" approach to music-making, emphasizing stripped-down interlocking rhythms that influenced the development of funk music. By the early 1970s, Brown had fully established the funk sound after the formation of the J.B.s with records such as "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine" and "The Payback". He also became noted for songs of social commentary, including the 1968 hit "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud". Brown continued to perform and record until his death from pneumonia in 2006.
Brown recorded 17 singles that reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts. He also holds the record for the most singles listed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart that did not reach No. 1. Brown was posthumously inducted into the first class of the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013 as an artist and then in 2017 as a songwriter. He also received honors from several other institutions, including inductions into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In Joel Whitburn's analysis of the Billboard R&B charts from 1942 to 2010, Brown is ranked No. 1 in The Top 500 Artists. He is ranked seventh on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown
Studio albums
Please Please Please (1958)
Try Me! (1959)
Think! (1960)
The Amazing James Brown (1961)
James Brown and His Famous Flames Tour the U.S.A. (1962)
Prisoner of Love (1963)
Grits & Soul (1964)
Showtime (1964)
Out of Sight (1964)
James Brown Plays James Brown Today & Yesterday (1965)
Mighty Instrumentals (1966)
James Brown Plays New Breed (The Boo-Ga-Loo) (1966)
James Brown Sings Christmas Songs (1966)
Handful of Soul (1966)
James Brown Sings Raw Soul (1967)
James Brown Plays the Real Thing (1967)
Cold Sweat (1967)
I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me (1968)
I Got the Feelin' (1968)
James Brown Plays Nothing But Soul (1968)
Thinking About Little Willie John and a Few Nice Things (1968)
A Soulful Christmas (1968)
Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud (1969)
Gettin' Down to It (1969)
The Popcorn (1969)
It's a Mother (1969)
Ain't It Funky (1970)
Soul on Top (1970)
It's a New Day - Let a Man Come In (1970)
Hey America (1970)
Sho Is Funky Down Here (1971)
Hot Pants (1971)
There It Is (1972)
Get on the Good Foot (1972)
Black Caesar (1973)
Slaughter's Big Rip-Off (1973)
The Payback (1973)
Hell (1974)
Reality (1974)
Sex Machine Today (1975)
Everybody's Doin' the Hustle & Dead on the Double Bump (1975)
Hot (1976)
Get Up Offa That Thing (1976)
Bodyheat (1976)
Mutha's Nature (1977)
Jam 1980's (1978)
Take a Look at Those Cakes (1978)
The Original Disco Man (1979)
People (1980)
Soul Syndrome (1980)
Nonstop! (1981)
Bring It On! (1983)
Gravity (1986)
I'm Real (1988)
Love Over-Due (1991)
Universal James (1993)
I'm Back (1998)
The Merry Christmas Album (1999)
The Next Step (2002)
The Christmas Song
James Brown Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
Folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
Help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys on his sleigh
And every, every, every mother's child is gonna spy
To see if a reindeer can really fly, really fly
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to you
Hello, Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to you
The lyrics of James Brown’s The Christmas Song is a classic holiday tune that captures the joyful spirit of the season. The opening verse depicts a cozy winter scene with chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose. The second verse talks about the quintessential holiday symbols, from turkey and mistletoe to yuletide carols sung by a choir. The scene is further enriched by people dressed up like Eskimos, creating a festive ambiance. The third verse is all about the excitement of children who can hardly fall asleep the night before Christmas, knowing that Santa Claus will arrive with his sleigh full of gifts.
The lyrics celebrate the wonder of Christmas and the tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. The song invokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth that many people associate with the holiday season. The song reminds us that Christmas is a time to come together, celebrate, and cherish the goodness in our lives. In the final verse, James Brown offers a simple message of joy and goodwill for everyone from kids to the elderly.
Line by Line Meaning
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
The chestnuts are being roasted over an open flame, giving them a cozy and nostalgic aroma, which symbolizes the warmth and comfort of Christmas time.
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Due to the cold weather, you may feel a slight biting sensation in your face, caused by the frost. This feeling reminds us of how invigorating and refreshing the winter season can be.
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir
The choir members are singing Christmas songs, which bring back happy memories of past holidays and bring a sense of community and togetherness to everyone who listens.
Folks dressed up like Eskimos
People are wearing warm clothing like the Eskimos, who live in colder climates, to keep themselves warm from the winter chill.
Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe
A staple of Christmas meals is Turkey, and along with mistletoe decorations, they are familiar holiday symbols that signal the arrival of the festive season.
Help to make the season bright
These festive decorations add warmth and joy to the holiday season and lend excitement and a cheerful atmosphere to everyone's experience.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
The young children's eyes light up with excitement and wonder when they see the dazzling variety of decorations and presents during the holidays, making their experiences of Christmas magical.
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
Hyped up on the joyful atmosphere, the children will find it difficult to fall asleep, impatiently waiting for Christmas Day and the arrival of their gifts.
They know that Santa's on his way
The children believe that Santa Claus is on his way to bring them gifts and presents, adding to the excitement and anticipation of the holiday season.
He's loaded lots of toys on his sleigh
Santa Claus' sleigh is loaded with presents for all the children who are looking forward to opening them on Christmas day and experiencing the joy of the holiday season.
And every, every, every mother's child is gonna spy
Every child eagerly looks forward to catching a glimpse of the flying reindeer and the magic of Santa Claus, making the holiday season even more memorable.
To see if a reindeer can really fly, really fly
The children are excited to see flying reindeers as they are not a common sight, which brings a sense of magic and wonder to the holiday season.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
The singer is offering this short and simple statement, which stands for the joy he wishes to bring to everyone around him, in the holiday spirit.
To kids from one to ninety-two
The singer hopes this statement will bring joy and happiness to people of all ages, bringing them into the festive mood regardless of their age.
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Although this statement has been said in many variations, this specific one focuses on the deep meaning behind its message, hoping to bring joy and Christmas spirit to the listener.
Merry Christmas
The direct message of the song; everyone is being wished a Merry Christmas, which is the message of the festive season.
Merry Christmas
The song ends on this well-wishing message, where everyone is being reminded of the joy that the holiday season brings and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas to you
The singer is wishing a Merry Christmas to the listener, to remind them of the joy and cheer that the holiday season brings.
Lyrics © Ceylon Records, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mel Torme, Robert Wells
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind