'Tis the Season

We were out shopping at Peacecraft in Albuquerque's Nob Hill last night and saw a big lighting display on the club that hugs the corner of Carlisle and Central. It included a large message of "Season's Greetings" that stretched along the Central side, which brought back memories of how popular this saying was long before the current Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas dither came along. In fact, as I recall it, "Season's Greetings" was the message most heard and seen on many Xmas cards, in stores and among people of varied backgrounds during my younger days. So there!

We aren't joining the Tricentennial luminaria contest this evening, but we do have our very pretty tree from the Delancey Street lot, our usual all blue lights along the eaves and our perenniel peace sign that's been lit on the front of the house since before the war started (see right). We are gonna travel down to Old Town later to mingle on the plaza and witness the lighting of the luminarias there and browse the lights on the way home.

Most of all, whether you celebrate any of the wintertime holidays and whichever way you might express that celebration, we want to wish you peace, good tidings and the patience and energy to keep speaking truth to power. Now more than ever.

Here are a couple tunes as my gifts to you this season. First up, in honor of all the brave souls who have returned to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, as well as those who may never return home, here's Christmas on the Bayou by Lonnie Brooks from the Alligator Records Christmas Collection. And I know I've been on a Jackson Browne kick lately, but I had to include his Rebel Jesus , this version performed with The Chieftains on The Bells of Dublin holiday album. You can read the timely lyrics below. Enjoy. Your friendly heathen pagan...

The Rebel Jesus, Jackson Browne

The streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tales
Giving thanks for all God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

They call him by the "Prince of Peace"
And they call him by "The Saviour"
And they pray to him upon the sea
And in every bold endeavor
As they fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worshipped in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why they are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

But pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgement
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In this life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure and I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus.