"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them: and they were so afraid. And the angle said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory unto God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men. That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."
— Linus
But is it? Is it really? Linus van Pelt quotes scripture well for a little boy who sucks his thumb and carries around a security blanket wherever he goes but does he really communicate the true meaning of Christmas that Charlie Brown and generations of impressionable kids are able to understand? I was about eight-years-old when I first saw A Charlie Brown Christmas and I liked a lot of it. But Linus' speech? I didn't get it then and it's still lost on me. What's a saviour unto us God-free secular types going to do? I never fretted like Charlie over the meaning of Christmas — and, indeed, no one did, the special's story of a child being depressed by not understanding the season now seems like an early form of a straw man that Chuck Jones could easily knock down with the heavy Christian message - because the holiday had its own meaning in my family.
So, the religious meaning of Christmas is lost on me but I come closest to getting it with Low's Christmas, an eight-song mini album released in 1999. In truth, the bulk of it I can give or take. Though running for less than half-an-hour, I typically never get past the third track, a drone-heavy though still lovely version of "The Little Drummer Boy". "Just Like Christmas", the opener, is also brilliant, a Spector-esque production and the breeziest performance to date from the Minnesota slowcore overlords. But it is the second track which makes it all so special and spiritual. "Long Way Around the Sea" is the religious song we can all get behind.
Sung from the perspective of the Biblical Magi (yes, them again; I swear we've fulfilled our Kings of the Orient quota) on their journey to Bethlehem, it's uncertain — since, you know, I'm not so good with religious texts as Linus — if they're taking the lengthier route to get to their destination or if it's for the return trip, though surely if Herod was that keen to find out what's going on he wouldn't order them to take even longer to get there. So, I guess they're going out of their way so as to avoid his nibs on the way back. I'm sure old Herod won't suspect anything to be amiss at all, no sir.
Yeah, I'm a glib man but I don't mean to be while discussing such an outstanding and heartfelt song. It is whispered beautifully by Alan Sparhawk with wife Mimi Parker joining in for the ethereal chorus. A classic example of Low's simplicity, it's easy to imagine "Long Way Around the Sea" captivating live audiences, religious and heathen alike, with it's stillness and majesty. A sure-fire concert highlight, it deserves to be a standard and one that church choirs the world over could do with.
For unto us is a song of deep meaning that we may all enjoy and be touched by. That's what Christmas songs are about, Charlie Brown.
But is it? Is it really? Linus van Pelt quotes scripture well for a little boy who sucks his thumb and carries around a security blanket wherever he goes but does he really communicate the true meaning of Christmas that Charlie Brown and generations of impressionable kids are able to understand? I was about eight-years-old when I first saw A Charlie Brown Christmas and I liked a lot of it. But Linus' speech? I didn't get it then and it's still lost on me. What's a saviour unto us God-free secular types going to do? I never fretted like Charlie over the meaning of Christmas — and, indeed, no one did, the special's story of a child being depressed by not understanding the season now seems like an early form of a straw man that Chuck Jones could easily knock down with the heavy Christian message - because the holiday had its own meaning in my family.
So, the religious meaning of Christmas is lost on me but I come closest to getting it with Low's Christmas, an eight-song mini album released in 1999. In truth, the bulk of it I can give or take. Though running for less than half-an-hour, I typically never get past the third track, a drone-heavy though still lovely version of "The Little Drummer Boy". "Just Like Christmas", the opener, is also brilliant, a Spector-esque production and the breeziest performance to date from the Minnesota slowcore overlords. But it is the second track which makes it all so special and spiritual. "Long Way Around the Sea" is the religious song we can all get behind.
Sung from the perspective of the Biblical Magi (yes, them again; I swear we've fulfilled our Kings of the Orient quota) on their journey to Bethlehem, it's uncertain — since, you know, I'm not so good with religious texts as Linus — if they're taking the lengthier route to get to their destination or if it's for the return trip, though surely if Herod was that keen to find out what's going on he wouldn't order them to take even longer to get there. So, I guess they're going out of their way so as to avoid his nibs on the way back. I'm sure old Herod won't suspect anything to be amiss at all, no sir.
Yeah, I'm a glib man but I don't mean to be while discussing such an outstanding and heartfelt song. It is whispered beautifully by Alan Sparhawk with wife Mimi Parker joining in for the ethereal chorus. A classic example of Low's simplicity, it's easy to imagine "Long Way Around the Sea" captivating live audiences, religious and heathen alike, with it's stillness and majesty. A sure-fire concert highlight, it deserves to be a standard and one that church choirs the world over could do with.
For unto us is a song of deep meaning that we may all enjoy and be touched by. That's what Christmas songs are about, Charlie Brown.
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