REMEMBER BETHLEHEM

[LiteGauge]

I keep coming back to this lovely song. I notice that someone's since posted the original, but I love your slow take on this and this arrangement. I've sent a friend invite - maybe I could get a look at the instructional video.

[wildcatsenior2010]

Does anybody know where I can find the Original version by Dee Mullins?

[deemullins1]

@wildcatsenior2010 I'm Dee's nephew, Lee, look up "dee mullins the continuing story" on Amazon, it's for sale there and the song is on this re released album, thanks for liking my uncles music! Take care!

[Pathwalker444]

beautifully played and sincerely sang. I think jake would smile down at you for this,

[Grahamchord]

A fabulous song, played very well. Would you supply a video of how you play it? Well worth the effort.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thanks......I've sent you a friend invite. Once accepted I can make the instructional videos viewable to you.

[dollymessiter]

A lovely interpretation of the song. But I do think your comments about Jake sound slightly dismissive -however you obviously like some of his output so perhaps that's not intentional! . He was extremely popular in the UK throughout the 1960's and 70's and though he faded from view in the last 20 years of his life there is now a new and very vigorous upsurge of interest in his work.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I was aware of most of what you said except that I was dismissive!!! I read back through my comments but can't find what you were referring to. Anyway...be sure no dismissiveness was intended

[NFJW]

This is a wonderful version of a beautiful song. It's just a shame you couldn't have played it at the recent Jakefest in Sutton Coldfield on 19th July!

Thanks for posting it.

Neil

[ChazTempz]

I have always loved this song. I've been a huge fan of Jake's ever since I grew up and slowed down enough to listen closely to him. He was unique - capable of beautiful touching lyrics, great tunes and terrific guitar-playing - and being able to reduce grown men and women to tears of laughter. Thanks for posting the song, and especially for playing the guitar part so well and clearly - I'm inspired to have a go myself!!

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Well said! I hope you do have a go at it and if you do please post it and notify me. Thanks for the comment.

[jonmees]

Spot on, nice cover.

[jamierourketen]

god bless you for this cover not heard it for years!

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thanks!

[LiteGauge]

A truly beautiful interpretation. I haven't hear Jake's original, but I can imagine him playing and singing this. I think that it is actually very characteristic, but it's as if he'd suddenly taken away the mask that he hid behind when he performed. It's not the sort of song that's very easy to sing in a pub in Yorkshire or Monmouth after everyone's been hanging around the bar for a while. Thanks.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thank you for your kind comment. There was an online clip of him (Jake) singing this but I can no longer find it. He was clearly a complex man. I have strong impressions, admittedly none of which are verifiable. I agree it's not a pub song but if I was drunk it'd make me cry! Allow me to refer you to a song of similar theme posted here under my username. It's titled, "It Was NOT A Silent Night (Labor of Love).

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thank you. I haven't heard Goodall's arrangement but hope to.

[Ariedartin]

Nicely done. You're quite good at this! I prefer Howard Goodall's arrangement, though.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

British artists, writers,musicians are defunct, all others are just dead.

[ianclivewright]

"defunct", interesting euphemism, he's dead, that's about as defunct as you can get.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

British artists, writers,musicians are defunct, all others are just dead.

[Cassign]

My father played this 45 rpm record for us every christmas when I was growing up. I sang it with him and my sister last christmas with keyboard at church. Thanks for doing this. I know this song so well & I just love it.

[58boy]

Very good. Great song and you play it beautifully too.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thank you! Cheers to the UK!

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Appreciate the enouragement and thanks for subscribing!

[bachwoman]

So beautiful! Big thanks from a long-time Jake fan.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Take two aspirin for the fever and call the doctor! Just kidding! These words come from someone with a sweet and sensitive spirit.

[vegangelist]

i feel light and heavy, happy and sad, weak, broken and healed when i hear you sing this. stunning. simple.  exquisite. i nearly get the shivers to hear you sing this so beautifully.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thank you!

[ianclivewright]

Beautiful lyrics, well done and put together.

[matjohnroe]

Superb rendition of a great song. Bravo!

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thank you, matjohnroe.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thanks! I would like to do at least another Thackray song. I checked out your site! Keep at it young man, you have promise!

[bigconman36]

Thank you so much for this performance. I've watched it over and over. You've managed to capture Jake's intricate guitar style. fantastic. please do some more Jake songs!! {from probably the only 18yr old Jake fan}

[Beuta]

your songs give me somethign! dont know what it is, but its so great, undesscribeable...

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thanks, Beuta! If you figure out what it is let me know.

[hungryhendry]

Thanks for a very touching and honest performance which I found quite moving. Beautiful simple song of Jake's with an unusual innocence. I wish I could play like that! Well done :-)

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thank you! I also wish I could play as well some but the whole point is to play as well as you can and with your whole heart, isn't it?

[schteadynow]

You are so right. A few years ago I played drums in a band. I have never found anything quite like the joy of music, whether playing or listening. I have quite varied musical tastes, but there is nothing to beat that emotion of fully understanding the emotion of a particular song or piece of music. Desert Island discs is always a good listen, because you can see how people are so moved by certain pieces.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thanks for the reference. I wasn't aware of it and just checked it out. Looks interesting!

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Oh, and I wish I had learned to play drums! I beat on my guitar occasionally and have developed a couple of songs around it that I eventually hope to post. It's the repressed drummer trying to get out.

[JakeThackrayfan]

Lovely version of a great song.  Well done.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Appreciate you taking time to comment and even more that you did so positively. Thanks!

[schteadynow]

Hi. Really enjoyed your playing. Heard this on a live album that my parents had. I believe he wrote it when he was a teacher for a school nativity play. He was always a very modest man, but actually said something like "a song of which I am not ashamed". Like you say, an untypical non-satirical song. So simple and yet so brilliant. I'm not religious, but always find it very moving. I can tell that this song has the same effect on you. Many thanks for posting this.

[fluffysdad]

The live album is now on double CD, called "Live Performance", EMI 0946 357925. released 2006. I got it a couple of weeks ago. I haven't heard Jake since seeing him in concert in the late 70's - I'd forgot how good his songs are.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

I'll have to check it out. I wonder if "Remember Bethlehem" is on it.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thank you for enjoying and thank you for the info which I didn't know. I imagine it was fun to be his student considering his droll sense of humor and his brilliant intellect. Love to have been one of the unsuspecting people attending that nativity and hearing the premier of "Remember Bethlehem". You would have had to peel me off the wall! I first heard it on the radio in lively bluegrass style while driving across Texas. I think Thackray would have found that amusing.

[Wakey222]

Bloody beautiful to listen to and watch.

You're an excellent player, and I enjoyed that performance. Did you use an open tuning, or tune to G (F? whatever?) I'm a huge Thackray fan but hadn't heard this song before. I started evangelising Jake on the net some years ago, and I find that there is now a growing awareness of his genius among people younger than us.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thank you! It's encouraging to have one's music appreciated. Tuning is 151513. Thackray was truly unique. "Remember Bethlehem" is one of the only songs I know of his that has no satirical slant. In fact "Remember Bethlehem" is one of the most sweetly reverent songs I have ever heard, bar none.

[flyingsc0tsman]

Very nice. Thanks for posting.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

You're welcome. Thanks for your kind comment.

[drunkordry]

There is no "e" in Thackray. The late great Jake is getting a bit more attention than he did in his latter years.

[SONGOFSONGS2]

Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I'll correct it. I hope that's true (getting attention). I hardly every hear a thing about him and he was a brilliant and unique talent.