This Is Christmas

from Holiday Songs by Curt Smith

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“This Is Christmas” tells the story, Smith says, “of an adult visiting his parents at Christmas and lamenting how he’s always made to feel like a child when he returns home. It culminates in his realization and acceptance that they’re family after all, and nothing will (or even should) change that.” Fittingly, backing vocalists on the track include Smith’s daughters Diva and Wilder; Charlton Pettus (Smith’s longtime friend and collaborator) and his children Georgica and Harry; Jason Joseph; Simon Steadman; and chorus comprised of local school children.

“This Is Christmas” was be featured in the December 15 2010 episode of the USA Network series “Psych.” “I’d been attempting to write a holiday song for years,” Smith says, “but always found them a bit trite and forced. I was trying again when Psych’s James Roday approached me about licensing a song for the holiday episode of “Psych.” Once he sent me a clip of the scene he had in mind, it all made sense and the song came together naturally.”

Like Smith’s previous solo efforts, he released “This Is Christmas” under a Creative Commons license. The license Smith uses allows others to freely share, perform, and remix his work, so long as the uses are non-commercial, Smith is credited, and any derivative works carry the same license.

lyrics

Break out the guilt
It is the season
Stop making sense
Put out those fires and always brace yourself

Give me the strength
To hold together
Shine down on me
Am I only half the man I want to be?

The more things change...

Everybody sing

This is Christmas and this is home
Peace on Earth's been a long time coming

credits

from Holiday Songs, track released November 29, 2010
Production credits:
Produced by Curt Smith & the Reverend Charlton Pettus
Recorded at Shabby Road

Mixed by Charlton Pettus
Mastered by Ted Jensen for Sterling Sound

Written by Smith/Pettus – Happy Fish Music exclusively administered by Kobalt Music Publishing Limited (BMI) and alpettusongs (ASCAP)

Vocals: Curt Smith
Backing vocals: Jason Joseph, Lisa P’s 6th Grade Classes, Simon Steadman, Charlton Pettus, Harry Pettus, Georgica Pettus, Diva Smith, Wilder Smith
All instruments: Curt Smith & Charlton Pettus

Curt would like to thank:
Frances, Diva & Wilder AKA my life
Charlton, Alexandra, Georgie & Harry
Ted Jensen
Arlene Wszalek
Jason Joseph, Afton Hefley, Lisa P & Simon Steadman
James Roday
Justine Ungaro and Gina Vivona
Cover photograph: Justine Ungaro
Art Direction and Design: Gina Vivona for GV Creative

license

some rights reserved

about

Curt Smith Los Angeles, California

Curt Smith is the co-founder of Tears For Fears, with which he continues to tour worldwide, as well as an acclaimed solo musician. He also writes music for film, television and the web, most recently scoring the independent feature Meth Head,. He's a regular speaker at creative, media and technology events including TEDxHollywood, TEDxSan Francisco and the USC Annenberg Online Communities program. ... more

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