Second Year Round/Star up in the East (Christmas songs)

I thought I'd put both the Christmas songs I have written this year up now because I doubt I'd have chance for another year. Both the songs are not finished they are rough drafts which I'm not completely satisfied with, but I knew if I don't put them up now then I'd completely forget about them.
The first song 'Second Year Round' is about going through a break up with someone the year gone and having to celebrate the season without them though you still love them. I like to add traditional song elements into my Christmas songs because they make it have that old time feeling. 'Silent Night' is the song referred to in here, though I believe the original song was written after a few days piece between two opposite countries in World War 2, the meaning of the title is altered and now refers to loneliness.
'The Star up in the East' is told from the three wisemens' point of view when travelling to meet Jesus after hearing from an angel that the saviour is about to be born. It talks about putting your faith in the Lord by using the star for guidance instead of a map. It also mentions the gifts they bring for the Jesus and what they represent. I got inspired to write this song when watching a documentary called 'The Star of Bethlehem' I found the documentary really inspiring and recommend it. I'm not sure if all my facts are right because after watching the programme I did a bit of my own research and found different interpretations for the event, for example in what direction the star rose from. So forgive me if my facts are wiry.

Second Year Round

Verse
Can I dance with you please?
I'm tired of dancing with your memory
6 months is that all it's been?

6 months before the Christmas tree
Went up in the house where we used to be
Now I can't say it's been easy

Build
Turn back time
Rebind the bind
Won't you be so kind

Chorus
Silent night, lonely night
Turn off the world, put out the lights
Everyday your gone I count
I'm loving you for the second year round.

Verse 2
Did you get the card I sent
Or have you changed your address again
The words I wrote I really meant

Build 2
Put back the clocks
Unlock the locks
All is not lost

Chorus
Silent night, lonely night
Turn off the world, put out the lights
Everyday your gone I count
I'm loving you for the second year round.


Deleted verse-
Simple songs and candlesticks
Cannot compete with last year
But can you say just what that is.


The Star up in the East

Chorus
No we didn't need a map to guide us on our feet
Just a message from the Heavens and a star up in the East
Frank, Gold and Myrrh are the gifts we bring
If we keep on the track of the star up in the East.

Verse 1
We three Kings are from the east ourselves
We each saw the star rise above the hill.
The King of all kings is soon to arrive
Get the provisions we need and run to the night.

Chorus
No we didn't need a map to guide us on our feet
Just a message from the Heavens and a star up in the East
Frank, Gold and Myrrh are the gifts we bring
If we keep on the track of the star up in the East.
It will show us the way on the cliffs through the bay
Though he's born in the hay oh the saviour will save.

Verse 2
The gold we bring is as bright as the star
for the King of the Earth is what you are.
Frankincense to prove your our Lord,
the Myrrh represents your rise from the cross.

Chorus
No we didn't need a map to guide us on our feet
Just a message from the Heavens and a star up in the East
Frank, Gold and Myrrh are the gifts we bring
If we keep on the track of the star up in the East.
It will show us the way on the cliffs through the bay
Though he's born in the hay oh the saviour will save.

Karl Smitherman © 2012

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Last Years Noel

Christmas is a time for tradition, and every family has their own tradition on this time of year. One of my favourite traditions since little has been the treasure hunt, each year my Step Mum would hide our presents somewhere around the house (or street), she'd also hide a handful of gold stars around the house and each of us children would get a rhyme/riddle which suggests where the star is. Each star contains a letter and once they are all found you arrange the letters to make a sentence which tells you where the presents are...pretty fun ay?? Other traditions are going to midnight mass with my Mum and lighting a candle for the family we have lost in the past, or our Dad picking us up and driving around the streets and towns to look at the Christmas lights. My older brothers and sisters would sneakily poke holes in their Christmas presents to see what they had long before the day arrived whilst Mums old tree would never stand straight and would rest slightly against the wall. Without a doubt Christmas is my favourite time of year and as I get older I have really laboured on these traditions and without them Christmas seems a bit weird. I guess my own private tradition since being a little boy was wishing Jesus a happy birthday, I don't think it is his birthday but the thought still counts. As each year goes by the presents mean less and less to me and the traditions become bigger. I cannot wait when settled to celebrate Christmas with in my own family, whether it be a spouse and a dog, or a spouse and a kid, or a loud mouthed group of nieces and nephews. Each year I intend on writing a Christmas song, last years song I got the opportunity to record which was 'Lonely this Year'. Unfortunately the songs came a bit late this year which meant I couldn't record them, but this song below talks about going home for Christmas and celebrating it rich in tradition.


Verse 1
Call up the Dad hitch us a ride,
Lets drive around town look at the lights,
For once the world is just as bright,
As the moon beside the stars in the sky.

Bring out the coats, pick out the scarves,
Put up the tree and send out the cards,
Count down the days, dig out a path,
Wake up each morning to the dark.

Chorus
This year I find I'm asking for home,
Where the season is merry and you're never alone,
The distant choir hark I hear and the church bells,
On Christmas Day on last years Noel.

Verse 2
We'd huddle around the fires glow,
Gather thistle paint them gold,
Long for someone's arms to hold
and pray for the chance to wake to snow.

 Chorus
This year I find I'm asking for home,
Where the people are friendly, it's been so long and
The distant choir hark I hear and the church bells,
On Christmas Day on last years Noel.

Verse 3/Mid 8
Christmas eve is ending fast,
We light a candle after Mass,
For all those we've lost to the past
And a sad comforting glow is cast.

 Chorus
This year I find I'm asking for home,
Where the trees is half standing and the presents half opened.
The distant choir hark I hear and the church bells,
On Christmas Day on last years Noel.

Karl Smitherman ©

I don't remember if I mentioned this in the last blog, but my new song and first EVER music video is being released on Boxing Day...my gift to you!!! :-D it's called 'Man of Kent' which I think was the first song I wrote about, I believe its Blog 2 if you're interested.



Below is last years Chritsmas song 'Lonely this Year'...

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I found Christ today

Since moving to Guildford the Cathedral has been a place of prayer for me, I've only recently realised just how many times I have ventured up there to seek answers, comfort etc. I wrote the majority of this song in that place. I remember visiting it regularly in the summer, at that point I was quite low, quite angry, but no one would have guest because a lot of the time I am able to keep my emotions inside and battle them out on my own. It takes a lot for me to express what I am feeling, even my closest of friends don't get to see that side of me, and those that do I guess it means that I really appreciate their presence in my life and look up to them in some way.

I can't tell you how many times I have walked into the Cathedral feeling like the gypsy from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, was I truly accepted in religion? they say God loves all and I agree with that, but at the point of my death being what I am will he let me enter into the gates of heaven? When praying I had so much that I had to say to God but rather than being angry all my self doubt, anger and sadness that I had harboured over the past few months melted into peace and all I felt was contentment. I believe in that moment some sort of presence came to me and wanted me to know that everything would be ok and that I've no need to worry. After prayer I wrote about three quarters of this song and put it down for a couple of months:

I only thought to pick the song up and completed it when the other day I watched a documentary titled "For the Bible tells me so..." which was about proper religious families in Southern America and how they dealt with their children coming out as gay, the documentary really shook me up, some of the footage was so disturbing. I walked away feeling vulnerable and emotional, but it then made me count my blessings for those that had truly accepted me in the Christian community. I had realised for the first time how hard or awkward it must have been for me to walk in in all my hair and gaudiness and for them to take the time (the actual time not just a brief conversation or two) to get to know me and understand me...all that weakness I had just encountered had transfigured into strength and courage and they not knowing this had really cemented my stability in the church and for that I would always be grateful...I guess people are put in our lives for reasons and to teach us lessons and those that manage to do that remain gold dust in our lives and I guess have somehow rooted themselves into our spiritual growth.

So here is the song which I was so inspired to write in the Cathedral and had meant to finish a while back...although I am stuck on the last part of the chorus. I really don't know whether to put "Hallelujah, hallelujah, llelujah I am WHOLE or HOME??? I put 'whole' in just because it's what came to me first, which one do you think suits it best? help? 

Verse 1

I found Christ today and there he found me,

Sitting in the altar like a game of hide and seek,

I felt the weight I held removed from my soul,

I felt the doors to hell shudder as they closed.

Verse 2

I found Christ today and he took the time to stay,

He made me feel at home like I was welcome in my faith.

I found him in the bible then I found him in the seats,

I found him in the altar then I found him in me.

Chorus

Rising like the sun sitting on the mountain peak,

I struggled to understand but he understood me,

He lifted up my spirit, He lifted up my soul,

Hallelujah, hallelujah, llelujah I am whole.

Verse 3

I found Christ today, he washed away my stains,

He wiped away my tears, from within he wiped the pain.

He left a little scar to remind me I am his.

Then I bowed my head, then my brow he kissed.

Verse 4

I found Christ today, He sent me on the road

'Cos I shouldn't need these bricks to make me feel like I am home,

I shouldn't need the temple, I shouldn't need the stone,

I only needed him and only him alone.

Chorus

Rising like the sun sitting on the mountain peak,

I struggled to understand but he understood me,

He lifted up my spirit, He lifted up my soul,

Hallelujah, hallelujah, llelujah I am whole.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, llelujah I am whole.

Karl Smitherman 2012 ©

p.s. me and my amazing friend Jessamine Cera are working on a music video for my song 'Man of Kent' here is a little still from the video...

And here is the lyric write up and work sheet in which the song 'I found Christ today' was written on...

Outtakes-

"I found Christ today needing him so tenderly, I was lost but now found, was bound but now free"

"The light shone through the windows and there unto me, and there I felt brand new again a child of thee"

"I found Christ today and there he found me, a boy with ruby lips, golden hair and now a soul set free"

"I felt like I was riding high, the whole world at my feet"

"And all at once The Lord came down and reached for my soul, now I've no fear of who I am and where I am to go, and all at once Jesus whispers soft and low and there I felt the comfort and the possibility to float"

What's strange is that any one of these lyrics could have altered the meaning and story behind the song...

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