The founding members of the group were Conleth (Con) Cluskey (born 18 November 1941; died 8 April 2022), Declan (Dec) Cluskey (born 23 December 1942), and John Stokes (Sean James Stokes) (born 13 August 1940). In 1957 they formed their first band together, "The Harmonichords" (also seen as "The Harmony Chords"), a classically styled instrumental harmonica-act.
As The Harmonichords, they appeared on Hughie Green's 'Opportunity Knocks' on Radio Luxembourg[1] and on the 'Ed Sullivan' TV Show St. Patrick's Day Special (filmed in Dublin, broadcast 15 March 1959), where they played "Danny Boy."[2] They also played background music plus featured pieces in a 25 week radio comedy series called 'Odd Noises' on Radio Éireann featuring Eamonn Andrews.[3] They changed their name to "The Bachelors" in 1962 at the suggestion of Dick Rowe, A&R at Decca Records, who reportedly recommended the name "because that’s the kind of boy a girl likes."
During the 1960s, they had many successful songs in music charts in Europe Australia, South Africa, South America, parts of the USSR, and the United States. Some of the most successful were "Diane" (1964), "Marie" (1965), "I Wouldn't Trade You For the World" (1965), and "In the Chapel in the Moonlight" (1965). In 1965 they had the 'most played juke box track' with "The Stars Will Remember" from a film they made with then-current DJ Sam Costa.
Live work carried them into the 1970s with record breaking theatre season shows, but after a successful start to the decade with the album World of the Bachelors hitting the top 5, the band became less and less dominant in the music industry. Along with singers like Tom Jones they found themselves stuck in a decade of Glam Rock, unable to change with the times. They remained successful recording artists and moved to the Pye label, which contracted easy listening stars like Frankie Vaughan and Max Bygraves. Despite their last chart single being in 1967, they continued to play the cabaret circuit, still maintaining the original line-up until 1984, when there was "a messy split" between the Cluskey brothers and Stokes.
Following the split, the Cluskey brothers appeared as "The New Bachelors" and Stokes as "Stokes & Coe", Stokes allegedly also then appeared as "The New Bachelors" so the Cluskey's now perform as "Con & Dec The Bachelors"
In 2008 a compilation CD, "I Believe - The Very Best of The Bachelors," featuring the 60s hits together with two new songs recorded by Con and Dec Cluskey, was released through Universal who had acquired the Decca catalogue (available in the US as an import from Uni Classics Jazz UK), reached #7 in the UK Radio One album chart 27 July - 2 Aug 2008. Con and Dec Cluskey appeared on TV and radio to promote the album.
Happy Christmas
The Bachelors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Another year over, a new one just begun.
And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun,
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.
A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one without any fears.
And so this is Christmas for weak and for strong,
The rich and the poor ones, the road is so long.
And so happy Christmas for black and for white
For the yellow and red ones let's stop all the fights.
A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one without any fear.
And so this is Christmas and what have we done
Another year over, a new one just begun.
And so happy Christmas we hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.
A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one without any fear.
War is over if you want it, war is over now.
The lyrics of The Bachelors's song "Happy Christmas" reflect themes of reflection, unity, and hope during the holiday season. The opening lines, "So this is Christmas and what have you done, Another year over, a new one just begun," prompt the listener to pause and assess their actions and accomplishments over the past year. It sets a tone of introspection and evaluation as one year ends and a new one begins.
The song continues to express wishes for joy and festivities during the holiday season in the lines "And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun, The near and the dear ones, the old and the young." It emphasizes the importance of connecting with loved ones, regardless of age or relationship, and underscores the value of cherishing those close to us during the holiday celebrations.
The lyrics also touch upon broader social issues and disparities, as seen in the lines "And so this is Christmas for weak and for strong, The rich and the poor ones, the road is so long." This highlights the universal experience of Christmas, encompassing individuals from all walks of life, and acknowledges the challenges faced by different segments of society.
The call for unity and peace is prominent in the lyrics "And so happy Christmas for black and for white, For the yellow and red ones let's stop all the fights." It advocates for harmony and reconciliation among people of different races and backgrounds, promoting a message of inclusivity and understanding during the holiday season. The repetition of "A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year, Let's hope it's a good one without any fear," reinforces the overarching sentiment of optimism and goodwill for the coming year, urging listeners to embrace hope and positivity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Winston Lennon, Yoko Ono
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind