I dedicate my Christmas song today to my old friend, Bob Dudley from Batley, West Yorkshire.
Today’s Christmas song is ‘And So This is Christmas’. Also known as ’Happy Christmas (War is Over),’ this Christmas song was released in 1971 as a single by ‘John &Yoko/Plastic Ono Band’ with the ‘Harlem Community Choir’. The lyrics, by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, are set to the traditional English ballad ‘Skewball’. It was the seventh single release by Lennon outside his work with the Beatles.
The song reached Number 4 in the UK, where its release was delayed until November 1972. The song has periodically re-emerged on the ‘UK Singles Chart’, most notably after John Lennon’s death in December 1980, when it peaked at Number 2. In a UK-wide poll in December 2012, it was voted tenth on the ITV television special ‘The Nation’s Favourite Christmas Song’.
Also, being a protest song against the Vietnam War, ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ has since become a Christmas standard which is frequently recorded by other artists. It has appeared on compilation albums of seasonal music and was named in polls as a holiday favourite.
‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ was the culmination of more than two years of peace activism undertaken by John Lennon and Yoko Ono that began with the bed-ins they convened in March and May 1969. Their first ‘bed-in’ took place during their honeymoon. The song's direct antecedent was an international multimedia campaign launched by the couple in December 1969; at the height of the counterculture movement and its protest against America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. This protest by John and Yoko primarily consisted of renting billboard space in 12 major cities around the world for the display of black-and-white posters that declared ‘WAR IS OVER! If You Want It – Happy Christmas from John & Yoko’
Recognising the accessibility and popular appeal that made his 1971 single ‘Imagine’ a commercial success compared to the other songs he had released up to that point, Lennon concluded, "Now I understand what you have to do: Put your political message across with a little honey."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have been an avid reader since my early twenties and a writer since my forties, and whenever I come across a good idea, slogan, quotation or memorable line in a song, I usually find myself running the words and idea over and over in my mind for the rest of that day. ‘War is over! If you want it?’ is one such marvellous idea.
Everything begins with an idea. I always remember the quote that told me that the only thing which is stronger than the mightiest of armies is an idea whose time has come. The strange thing is that nothing says that the idea need be true so long as it is credible and convincing. The time and circumstances in which an idea is promoted are what really matters if great change is expected.
One’s ideas will be taken on board whenever the mind is ready to entertain them, and the body is prepared to defend them. Even an idea of mediocrity that generates enthusiasm will go ten times farther than a great idea that inspires nobody. That is why becoming a person who inspires good things in others is the highest of all personal ambitions and aspirations. It is far more meaningful and influential than having as your benefactor, the most important, most powerful and the wealthiest person in the world.
It is strange how powerful an idea that you have taken on board and have accepted into your belief structure and way of life can become. The ideas that have influenced my life, beliefs and actions more than any others have been the ‘Power of Love’ over all other things, along with the idea that ‘there is nothing that is true or false, right or wrong, good or bad THAT THINKING IT SO, WON’T MAKE IT SO!’
So, my advice to all is to choose your friends and close associates wisely if you wish to consolidate your peace, place and prosperity. Keep all friends close to you, but keep the ones who inspire and encourage you, closest of all. They are constant companions of your conviction and level of contentment.
Sheila and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Love and peace Bill xxx
Today’s Christmas song is ‘And So This is Christmas’. Also known as ’Happy Christmas (War is Over),’ this Christmas song was released in 1971 as a single by ‘John &Yoko/Plastic Ono Band’ with the ‘Harlem Community Choir’. The lyrics, by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, are set to the traditional English ballad ‘Skewball’. It was the seventh single release by Lennon outside his work with the Beatles.
The song reached Number 4 in the UK, where its release was delayed until November 1972. The song has periodically re-emerged on the ‘UK Singles Chart’, most notably after John Lennon’s death in December 1980, when it peaked at Number 2. In a UK-wide poll in December 2012, it was voted tenth on the ITV television special ‘The Nation’s Favourite Christmas Song’.
Also, being a protest song against the Vietnam War, ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ has since become a Christmas standard which is frequently recorded by other artists. It has appeared on compilation albums of seasonal music and was named in polls as a holiday favourite.
‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ was the culmination of more than two years of peace activism undertaken by John Lennon and Yoko Ono that began with the bed-ins they convened in March and May 1969. Their first ‘bed-in’ took place during their honeymoon. The song's direct antecedent was an international multimedia campaign launched by the couple in December 1969; at the height of the counterculture movement and its protest against America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. This protest by John and Yoko primarily consisted of renting billboard space in 12 major cities around the world for the display of black-and-white posters that declared ‘WAR IS OVER! If You Want It – Happy Christmas from John & Yoko’
Recognising the accessibility and popular appeal that made his 1971 single ‘Imagine’ a commercial success compared to the other songs he had released up to that point, Lennon concluded, "Now I understand what you have to do: Put your political message across with a little honey."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have been an avid reader since my early twenties and a writer since my forties, and whenever I come across a good idea, slogan, quotation or memorable line in a song, I usually find myself running the words and idea over and over in my mind for the rest of that day. ‘War is over! If you want it?’ is one such marvellous idea.
Everything begins with an idea. I always remember the quote that told me that the only thing which is stronger than the mightiest of armies is an idea whose time has come. The strange thing is that nothing says that the idea need be true so long as it is credible and convincing. The time and circumstances in which an idea is promoted are what really matters if great change is expected.
One’s ideas will be taken on board whenever the mind is ready to entertain them, and the body is prepared to defend them. Even an idea of mediocrity that generates enthusiasm will go ten times farther than a great idea that inspires nobody. That is why becoming a person who inspires good things in others is the highest of all personal ambitions and aspirations. It is far more meaningful and influential than having as your benefactor, the most important, most powerful and the wealthiest person in the world.
It is strange how powerful an idea that you have taken on board and have accepted into your belief structure and way of life can become. The ideas that have influenced my life, beliefs and actions more than any others have been the ‘Power of Love’ over all other things, along with the idea that ‘there is nothing that is true or false, right or wrong, good or bad THAT THINKING IT SO, WON’T MAKE IT SO!’
So, my advice to all is to choose your friends and close associates wisely if you wish to consolidate your peace, place and prosperity. Keep all friends close to you, but keep the ones who inspire and encourage you, closest of all. They are constant companions of your conviction and level of contentment.
Sheila and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Love and peace Bill xxx
