After several albums featuring few original compositions from the quartet came and went (1969's Beginnings, 1970's Play It Loud), the group began to write their own tunes, grew their hair long, and assumed the look of the then-burgeoning glam movement, joining the same cause championed by such fellow Brits as David Bowie and T. Rex. This new direction paid off in 1971 with the number 16 U.K. single "Get Down and Get With It," which soon touched off a string of classic singles and led to Slade becoming one of the most beloved party bands back home. They released Slayed? in 1972. Slade also utilized another gimmick, humorously misspelled song titles, as evidenced by such singles as "Coz I Luv You," "Look Wot You Dun," "Take Me Bak 'Ome," "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," "Gudbuy t'Jane," "Cum on Feel the Noize," "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me," and "Merry Xmas Everybody" (the latter of which re-entered the charts every holiday season for years afterward). Several attempts at cracking the U.S. market came up empty (with track listings between their U.K. and U.S. full-lengths differing), although such albums as Slade Alive! and Slayed? are considered to be some of the finest albums of the glam era.
Slade continued to score further hit singles back home, including such correctly spelled tracks as "My Friend Stan," "Everyday," "Bangin' Man," "Far Far Away," "How Does it Feel," and "In for a Penny," but with glam rock's dissolution and punk's emergence by the mid-'70s, the hits eventually dried up for the quartet. Despite the change in musical climate, Slade stuck to their guns and kept touring and releasing albums, as the title to their 1977 album, Whatever Happened to Slade, proved that the group's humor remained intact despite their fall from the top of the charts. A large, dedicated following still supported the group as they offered a performance at the 1980 Reading Festival that was considered one of the day's best, resulting in sudden renewed interest in the group back home and Slade scored their first true hit singles in six years with 1981's "We'll Bring the House Down" and "Lock up Your Daughters."
Slade received a boost stateside around this time as well, courtesy of the U.S. pop-metal outfit Quiet Riot, who made a smash hit out of "Cum on Feel the Noize" in 1983 that resulted in a strong chart showing for Slade's 1984 release Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (issued as The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome in the U.K. a year earlier). Slade then enjoyed a pair of U.S. MTV/radio hits, "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My." Holder and Lea also tried their hand at producing another artist around this time as well, as they manned the boards for Girlschool's 1983 release Play Dirty. Despite another all-new studio release, Rogues Gallery, and Quiet Riot covering another classic Slade tune ("Mama Weer All Crazee Now"), Slade was unable to retain their newfound American audience or rekindled British following and they eventually faded from sight once more, this time without a comeback waiting around the corner. During the '90s, a truncated version of the group dubbed Slade II was formed (without Holder or Lea in attendance), while Holder became a popular U.K. television personality as well as the host of his own '70s rock radio show. A 21-track singles compilation, Feel the Noize: The Very Best of Slade, was issued in 1997 (re-released under the simple title of Greatest Hits a couple of years later), which proved to be a popular release in England.
Discography
Beginnings (as Ambrose Slade, 1969)
Play It Loud (1970)
Slayed? (1972)
Slade Alive! (1972)
Old New Borrowed and Blue (1974)
Slade in Flame (1974)
Nobody's Fools (1976)
Whatever Happened to Slade (1977)
Return to Base (1979)
We'll Bring the House Down (1981)
Till Deaf Do Us Part (1981)
The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome (1983), re-released in 1984 as:
- Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (1984)
Rogues Gallery (1985)
Crackers - The Christmas Party Album (1985)
You Boyz Make Big Noize (1987)
Keep on Rockin' (1994) (as Slade II), is the only studio album by Slade II. The album was released in 1994 and has seen various re-issues and guises under alternative names such as Wild Nites (1999), Cum on Let's Party! (2002) and Superyob (2003).
There are other artists with the same name:
2. Slade less commonly refers to Grady Slade, Jr, a Rap artist
3. Slade also refers to a rapper who made music from 2013-2016 under the label, Chapter 9. He currently makes music under a new alias, Dante Oasis.
Merry X-Mas Everybody
Slade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the time that every Santa has a ball
Does he ride a red-nosed reindeer?
Does a ton-up on his sleigh?
Do the fairies keep him sober for the day?
So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
It's only just begun
Are you waiting for the family to arrive?
Are you sure you got the room to spare inside?
Does your granny always tell ya
That the old songs are the best?
Then she's up and rock and rollin' with the rest
So here it is Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
What will your daddy do
When he sees your mama kissin' Santa Claus?
Ah-ha
Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall?
Are you hoping that the snow will start to fall?
Do you ride on down the hillside
In a buggy you have made
And land upon your head, then you been slayed?
So here it is Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
So here it is Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
So here it is Merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
So here it is Merry Christmas (it's Chsritmas)
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
The lyrics to Slade's song "Merry X-mas Everybody" depict the joy and excitement surrounding the holiday season. The first verse asks if the listener has hung up their stocking and references Santa Claus having a ball, potentially drinking and being kept sober by fairies. The chorus acknowledges the merriment of Christmas and encourages listeners to look to the future, as the holiday is only just beginning.
The second verse asks if the listener is waiting for family to arrive, highlighting the importance of spending time with loved ones during the holidays. It also references the tradition of older generations preferring classic holiday songs, and then joining in with the younger generations to rock out to modern music. The bridge poses a fun scenario of a father seeing his wife kissing Santa Claus, adding a humorous and lighthearted element to the song.
Overall, the lyrics to "Merry X-mas Everybody" convey the idea of embracing the festive season and spending time with loved ones, while also acknowledging the fun and playful aspects of the holiday.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall?
Are you preparing for Christmas by decorating your house?
It's the time that every Santa has a ball
It's the holiday season and Santa Claus is in the mood for celebration
Does he ride a red-nosed reindeer?
Does Santa Claus have his magical transportation ready for gift-giving?
Does a ton-up on his sleigh?
Does Santa ride his sleigh at top speed?
Do the fairies keep him sober for the day?
Are Santa's helpers making sure he doesn't drink too much and stays focused on his task?
So here it is, Merry Christmas
I present to you, the holiday of Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Everyone is enjoying the festive season
Look to the future now
Let's focus on what the future has in store for us
It's only just begun
This is just the start of the holiday season
Are you waiting for the family to arrive?
Are you anticipating the arrival of your family on Christmas Day?
Are you sure you got the room to spare inside?
Do you have enough space to accommodate all your guests?
Does your granny always tell ya
Does your grandmother always mention
That the old songs are the best?
That classic Christmas carols are the most enjoyable?
Then she's up and rock and rollin' with the rest
Then she starts dancing and singing along with everyone else
What will your daddy do
What will your father's reaction be
When he sees your mama kissin' Santa Claus?
When he catches your mother kissing Santa Claus?
Ah-ha
An exclamation of surprise or realization
Are you hoping that the snow will start to fall?
Are you looking forward to a snowy Christmas?
Do you ride on down the hillside
Do you go sledding down a hill?
In a buggy you have made
On a sled you built yourself?
And land upon your head, then you been slayed?
And if you fall and hit your head, then you're 'slayed' (a wordplay on 'sleighed')
So here it is Merry Christmas (it's Chsritmas)
I'm wishing you a Merry Christmas (because it really is Christmas)
Everybody's having fun
Everyone is enjoying themselves
Look to the future now
Let's turn our attention to the coming days and weeks
It's only just begun
The holiday festivities have just started
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Lea, Neville Holder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind