The Band's discography is filled with treasures. A group enriched by numerous songwriting talents, they have crafted an extraordinary legacy that blends rock, folk, Americana, and more, continuing to inspire.
As Christmas approaches, CLASH has found itself revisiting a mid-70s gem from The Band, a festive track that often goes unnoticed.
“Christmas Must Be Tonight” is featured on The Band’s 1977 album “Islands” – which may be considered one of their lesser works, yet this song stands out as a true highlight. It tells a captivating story of Christ's birth, using language inspired by the King James Bible to recount the first Christmas.
It unfolds like a carol:
O Come Ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem
Come and behold him
Born the king of angels …
The song focuses on the shepherds, and Robbie Robertson’s lyrics possess a charming sense of poetry:
In a dream I heard a voice
Say fear not, come rejoice
It’s the end of the beginning
Praise the newborn king
Sung by Rick Danko, the majority of the songwriting was done by Robbie Robertson, who was inspired after the birth of his son, Sebastian. As a half-Jewish, half-Mohawk Canadian rock star, Robertson might seem an unlikely source for this festive cheer, but the song is a genuinely heartfelt expression.
Interestingly, The Band's Garth Hudson once served as a church organist, suggesting there has always been a touch of religious or spiritual influence in their work. He noted:
The Anglican church has the best musical traditions of any church that I know of. It’s the old voice leading that provides the countermelodies and incorporates all those classical techniques which, while not immediately obvious, add richness to the music.
Robbie Robertson was fond of the song and re-recorded it twice – the first instance was for Bill Murray’s holiday film Scrooged, which also features New York Dolls’ icon David Johansen in a memorable role.
Want to learn more about Robbie Robertson’s cinematic experiences? We highly recommend his memoir, Insomnia.
Listen to The Band’s “Christmas Must Be Tonight” below.
The Band's collection is filled with treasures. As a group endowed with numerous songwriting talents, they have created an extraordinary legacy, blending rock,
