IBiFC on TOTP

[theestever]

Whisperin' Bob!

[IanBrains]

TOTP2 edited out the guns and rockets section of the video just after the end of the lyrics which is a shame as it helps to explain the idea behind the song.

[orbs34rcher]

Love this track, don't think we really understood the message back in '75 but now...... Gotta be probably the best christmas single ever released

[OuchoRocks]

yup, oucho says well what does he say in cattillian?

[suziemaine]

Can you add subtitles for a Xmas present for the deaf? We love it :)

[hugodrax71]

un capolavoro!

[gilllew]

tTHIS SHOULD HAD BEEN THE 1975 CHRISTMAS NO.1 INSTEAD OF "BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY" (WHICH IHAS TO BE ONE OF THE LEAST CHRISTMASSY NO.1'S)SONGS DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONGS OF ALL TIME.

[waster1976]

@gilllew this wasnt a better song than bohemian rhapsody, however it was a better christmas song.

[nfaz75]

Chris rea, driving home for christmas, sums it all up!

[HardWarUK]

If only one Xmas song was played on the radio in the future it would have to be this one for the warning message it gives us that we ignore at our peril!

[gaetanomariadigiorgi]

Meraviglia!

[sukes58]

what does ibifc mean shouldnt it be the bbc tv channel

[SkaarjSlayer]

ibifc stands for "I Believe in Father Christmas" which is the name of the song

[buttprobe]

The song is pretty , it brings ters to my eyes..and i love how they choose deserty area with camels around for an Xmas song hahaha

[Ruiggie]

This, Pogues and Kirsty and Jona Lewie the 3 best Christmas songs ever!!!

[NELSONatTRAFALGAR]

@Ruiggie Dont you like chris dr burgh, A spaceman came travelling?????

[Ruiggie]

Like lots of others but my favourite 3 are this, Jona Lewie and Kirsty and the Pogues.

[barcyorky]

This my Favourite Christmas Song because of it's sentiment about the corporate murder of the meaning of Christmas. Also I love the doubtless fact that it is a British Song, lovely to hear someone speak of "Father Christmas" rather than "Santa".

[vntgirl]

fantastic song,this was always my mums fav christmas song.

rip mum love u always xxx

[Mustanghands]

thanks for posting this, best audio of the original with video I could find

[MarieMontreal]

loveky

[gunit69er]

i AM proud to be related to Greg Lake for this song, this is one of the best Xmas songs out there.

[whitewitch8]

please do not ever take this away... it's beautiful, I love it and so many others have been removed. Thank you so much.....

[fridgewrestler]

You're a stupid ass. Merry Christmas dumbshit!

[santamara]

A true classic! Great post!

Thank you & to D&G for sharing!

Merry Christmas everyone!

[TACYELLA11]

Beautiful song! Thanks for posting And to D@G for sharing!

[cremulator69]

no aircrafthandler you are right

[cremulator69]

what a great song, to quote a cliche they do not write them like this any more

[boogiewoogiegal]

I LOVE this song, It TOTALLY rules!!!!!!!!!

Listened to it 15 times in one go !!!!!!!!!

[whitewitch8]

Lovely song.... lovely man....Merry Christmas & peace.

[aircrafthandler]

i tell you they dont make christmas songs like they did in the 70s,or is that me just getting old.

[10clairemke]

nopee.

I wasn't alive back then but theyre so good!

[PaulRoberts]

A song about a Christmas Retard? Well that's a first at least!

[FoxtronInk]

Beautiful song about christmas....Merry Christmas everybody

Muy Merry christmas

I mean Merry, Merry Christmas But really, merry merry merry pinchi chrismas byebyebye

[rosstulaw]

You're right, it was 1975. I remember playing this Christmas morning perhaps a bit loud to er wake everyone up. Well it was Christmas. Without doubt a Christmas Classic - much preferred to the manufactured, marketed mush nowadays. And no, I can't stand Steve Wright's totally inept talk-over either. Bloke should get back behind the bank-counter. Like the camels mind. Just like on the dates. Hyvaa Joulua.

[gunit69er]

Im glad you enjoyed this song, i hope it is still played every xmas morning :)

[onthepc08]

Dont you just love Seve Wright? =)

[imous08]

this is a real christmas song, unlike the plastic pop stuff these days....

classic! Almost christmas and cant wait... although i dont have that special feeling yet...

greeting from finland :D

[pipistrello64]

Greg lake is one of kind singer ever !!

[BabyJoBlue]

Hate to correct TOTP 2 but this was 1975 not 1976

[knuwspicker]

The Best!

[SPECTRE1961]

1976, how to pick up the feelings, people this sensations, after the 32 years ....

Progressive Rock, still stay on alive...WHOLLY!

Greg Lake & John Wetton..two voices...

The same worth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FoxtronInk]

I agree, Progressive rock will never die>>>Greg Lake, John Wetton, Jon Anderson RIGHT ON!!!

[thejewishnews]

fooking classic

[newel9451]

I remember this song when it was first performed and it is as enjoyable today as it was back in the seventies---It does not age and will live on---There is a classical connection to the music used in this song---Think "Russian"---A great song from a great Musician who was once part of a ELP

[110665]

can't we all just get along!!! Christ!!!!

[seanseventy]

dont b so agressive will u!

[mainusername]

i can respect the man's poetic contribution. however, i agree with his audience of 7 men 2 kids and 3 camels that this was less than thrilling. almost like watching paint dry.

[Sheshader]

mainusername,

This video was shot in the early to mid-70's, and whose theme is a very serene take on the way people's contemporary view of Christmas. What on Earth were you expecting? Scantily clad bimbos cavorting around? Las Vegas-style light shows?

[mainusername]

hmm, why would i expect scantily clad bimbos cavorting around and las vegas light shows? cheap shot. allow me to apply your stereotypical logic of reason and say everyone in the uk must be transparent. the film was created to simply have one. that was my point.

[Sheshader]

So what did you expect? I'm at a bit of a loss as to why you think it's so lacking as to warrant negative comment. It's a very understated song, and the "video" suits it, IMO.

[mainusername]

i left a negative comment about the video and was being humorous not spiteful. greg lake obviously put more thought into his song than his director put into his video which is a shame. if it was on the radio i might have enjoyed it. the video masks the art and presentation of content. imo greg likely prefers his song over the video. can't exclude visual aspects when it is part of the medium.

[Sheshader]

Fair enough, but your initial "watching paint dry" comment was a bit OTT, especially when you consider the year it was made. To me, seeing this video after more than 30 years of hearing and loving the song itself, was a bonus. I actually like the song even more now as a result.

[maidenman33]

i love this song!!! its one of my favorite Christmas song,my mom played it like 5 times a day this year =}

[pidgeondrum]

i believe in Father Christmas, the Spirit of Christmas, and i hope to keep that belief alive through my children. wishes for a hopeful Christmas and for love and peace in the coming year!

[rockingmods]

PEACE AND LOVE TO EVERYONE, FOREVER!

[Dagorlord]

We know as humans what were supposed to do.

Yet our mental limited capacity keeps us from learning to live side by side with each other.

Maybe in a thousand or so years we'll finally evolve as species and learn every life is equal.

[garda611]

merry christmas everyone may mankind one learn no to kill each other

[harrylime22]

lol ok

[theusasucks1]

the xmas we deserve, how very true

[Metamorphagus]

This is the best Christmas song ever. It really sort of makes me feel warm and happy inside.

[dav3ng]

As you all seem to like the more thoughtful approach to your Xmas songs, check out "Lindisfarne - Winter Song (Live 1984)" on You Tube.

Probably has the most resonance in the UK and not strictly a Christmas song, but well worth a listen for its superbly crafted lyrics.

[john0961]

"Be it Heaven or Hell, the Christmas we get we deserve" How true ! I love this song.

[arita2006]

the most cynical Christmas song I've ever heard - and it's quite brilliant.

[lozhardy]

This is the best Christmas song ever. It reminds me of when I was young and my dad used to play this on Christmas Eve before I went to bed. Brilliant.

[nottssoul]

Not your typical christmas party song but one of the clasic "message songs" from the 70's. Christmas is a time for reflection. In all the commercial trappings its easy to forget the real reason for celebrating. Father Chistmas is a magical fairy tale character however the reality cruely catces up with us all eventually- great majority anyway ( a harsh blow i know !!) but the birth of Jesus as a saviour to the world is real- don't give up on ideals.

Happy Christmas.

[Metamorphagus]

I'm pretty sure that a) Jesus was born in March, or around that time and b) he wasn't "our saviour" as God doesn't exist. Before the Christians came along, Christmas was called Saturnalia.

[jlarsson7]

I think you will find the fairystory greg sings about is the Jesus story the worlds biggest deception

[Sheshader]

jlarsson, looks like your comment been marked as "negative" by some. I guess they haven't actually interpreted the lyrics accurately, because you're right - that's exactly what he's saying. Either that or they're overly-sensitive Christians who can't handle alternative viewpoints.

[pidgeondrum]

Merry CHRISTMAS everyone, may you have peace this wonderful season and everyday! keep faith strong in your heart and never lose sight of the TRUE SPIRIT of CHRISTMAS - LOVE!

[roisman]

Yes this is the best christmas song ever, but if you hear every word that he sings he tells you its all false, just like real life realy, everything

in it is a let down at some point.

[fozngrace]

Gods or god does not exist, But Good people do.

[rockingmods]

I believed in father Christmas. I BELIEVE IN PEACE ON EARTH!

Peace n love to everyone. May our gods be with us, who ever we are!

[Patrick19090]

i love this song so much

[ROTABAT]

Happy Christmas To Everyone Where Ever You Maybe

[onlytheillusion]

i agree with Sheshader, just because the don't agree with someones opinion doesnt mean you should mark it is spam so that no-one else can make there judgment as easily. What right do you have to make censorship decisions for everyone?? None at all!

[tom54111]

im part irish and all my family names that i know of are irish e.g lynch,moore,stephens and i know about the ira and evrything that happened in ireland =( but what has this song got to do with ireland

[SeanLarkinStreet]

Ask Nick! below.

Everything that happened in Ireland?

[SeanLarkinStreet]

Probably the two most extreme contrasts you could find, namely! Christmas & Rifles.

Thankfully Ireland is enjoying relative peace now and peaceful Christmas times.

Place like Derry and Belfast are free from trouble and a heavy military presence has gone, people feel free to go about their daily tasks nowadays. Political imput from America has worked wonders helping to bring people together. Bill Clinton deserves a medal.

Oh! by the way, great song there from Greg Lake, one of my favs too.

[nick7602]

I agree it is great to see people going about their daily lives there,free from trouble, such a beautiful country

[Sheshader]

Why was pnfkwfl's post marked as spam? If you don't agree with it, disagree with it, don't bury it because you like the message.

[Sheshader]

Sorry, I meant "don't like" the message...

This comments board really needs an edit function.

[ricko3k]

The best, Greg Lake is a prog rock and British Music legend, where is 'ee?

[nick7602]

Very Very emotional song for me, serving with the armed forces in 1976 in Northern Ireland, I had the chance to do a radio broadcast with the BBC in Belfast, this was for all soldiers from the Midlands serving on Active Service, I remeber it always at Christmas, I was 18 Years old, and I missed home so much, the day was very cold and we travelled from Londonderry, to belfast in uniform and with our rifles, I remember saying dont worry mom I will be alright!

[Garts3030]

i agree, it is a very emotional song for me also and powerful, thank you for serving in the armed forces.

[nick7602]

Thats very kind of you to say so, I was just a kid far from home, have a lovely christams

[theusasucks1]

if we only listened to the words, it means more now to me than ever before, the christmas we deserve, very true

[vonnie1uk2001]

Really love this song. Sad though, but good. :-)

[SamAddamsMan]

What a true an Awsome song! Too True

[ojwatts]

My hair stands up every time this song comes on, esp' the last few lines of lyrics. Love it to bits and is without doubt the best xmas song of all time. OJ

[Musicfan1234567890]

Check out an awesome version of this song by "Seven Second Orchestra" at Soundclickdotcom

[rushevokool]

This has to be the very best Christmas song of all time---- loved it in the 70`s and love it even more now, and isn`t he just beautiful.........

[jiron68]

this is the best christmas song, sums up christmas very well

[pidgeondrum]

dear santa, can i have greg lake for chriatmas??

[petlikowsky]

this song is without a doubt the best christmas song ever. thank greg lake for this piece of christmas tuneage

[passionateaboutmusic]

WOW....Greg looks like an angel...just look at that sweet angel face

[guv07]

I know - good looking bugger isn't he. I hate him (not)

[alan5670]

this is the one

[zoolander78]

This is a very cynical song about how Christmas never lives up to expectations and is fake. It is a song about finding out santa is not real and it doesn't snow etc etc. The last few scenes have been changed from the original ones of bombs dropping.

[zoolander78]

Pigeondrum he sings about how he be;ieved in F

[pidgeondrum]

did i miss something? "he sings about how he believed in F" what?

[passionateaboutmusic]

Such a beautiful song...the best Christmas song ever....Greg Lake's voice is just beautiful and it goes with his angelic face in this vid...."they told me a fairy story"

[dennisnails]

This must be the King of all Christmas songs!

[barcyorky]

I remember this palying on the radio in our Kitchen in 1974, Mum was busy cooking and I was upstairs listening and looking skywards for Father Christmas from my bedroom window, I was 8 and it is a blissful memory! Beautiful and really meaningful Christmas song!

[ralucagymnast]

Oh my God I can relate to that!!!!This song and the memories is invokes make me cry and feel really melancholy:( Thats the measure of a great song: it takes you to places and stirs up feelings you thought you had forgotten. This is one of those songs.THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS SONG.

[Sheshader]

Just want to say that I agree with many here, that this is undoubtedly the best "Christmas" song I've ever heard. Doesn't pull its punches either. :) It takes me all the way back to the 70's, when I was about 8 years old.

[Decimaldylan]

"The Christmas we get we deserve." was this line ment ironicly or not? its always been the one thing i didnt like in an otherwise brilliant song.

[pidgeondrum]

I believe in father christmas, it's what keeps me young!! we've gotta have hope in our hearts, keep the faith!!!

[JohnKneeRememberMe]

I agree.

[mchechio]

The best Christmas song ever. The "not so good" side of the holidays, wrapped up with the best parts also. Amazing melodic guitar work, and amazing vocals..thanks for posting.

[knuwspicker]

Thanks for this! It's taken me years to find it!

[MuseBellamy07]

such a beautiful song, I feel all christmassy now.

[wonderdrift]

I am looking for the "Asia in Asia" tour footage from 1985 or so, with Greg Lake on vocals.

They were in Japan, symulacast on Mtv, public radio, ect.

Any luck?

[Autumntime07]

115 dayss to go ! : D

[smoshme]

35 now!!

[Autumntime07]

its funny that you talk about the commercial side of things myt362450 , me and my girlfriend had a long talk about it and both said that this Christmas we'll go back to basics so to speak as far as Christmas..... Midnight mass the lot! Only 125 days till Christmas! ENJOY the rest oft the summer, whats left of it!

[hannascb]

154 days to go!

[Spud069]

The best Christmas song ever (and the darkest!).

[hannascb]

one of the most magic and wonderfull Christmas songs EVER!

[ukgolfa]

Found this tonight, July 9th, to replace a previous post that was deleted.... "Honey, where's the tree and the ornaments..?"

[garda611]

how i love this song

[dinobaldi]

What a beautiful song and what a great man Greg Lake is!!! He had a voice of gift, especially when he was younger....

[15chipshops]

I love Christmas and this is the best Christmas song EVER.

The classical segment used in the song is called 'Lieutenant Kije Suite'

by 'Prokofiev'...

[ThreewayJam]

Nice Song

[myt362450]

This is my alltime favorite song. Not just for Christams but all time. The lyrics are just so good.

"The peel of a bell and that Christmas tree smell

and eyes full of tinsel and fire" just sums up the happy and dream filled christmas for me as a child.

They sold me a dream of christmas

They sold me a silent night

They told me a fairy story

Till i believed in the Isrealites.

Sadly, this totaly sums up the commercial christmas i now experience as an adult.

[tweasha]

best ever xmas song in the world

[VevendoVides]

I love this song!!! This is the greatest X-Mas title ever done!!! Thank you Greg

[mongolianluv]

great song

[crimsonkng]

I've dug Greg since his King Crimson days. And I've always like this song. Kind of a hokey video, though. And he looks stoned, doesn't he?