Many years ago, when my children were young, we would bundle up and sneak outside on Christmas Eve to see the stars. I always enjoyed showing them the constellations, planets and moon with my telescope. We had even painted the real Winter Sky on one of the bedroom ceilings with specks of glow in the dark paint. But on Christmas Eve, we were looking for "The Red Star"... this, after listening for news of where Santa Claus was last spotted by air traffic controllers, NASA and anyone else savvy enough to track his progress.
One year on Christmas Eve, I saw my youngest son Nicholas, staring out the window. I joined him there and (would you believe it?), there it was! Speeding across the sky, THE RED STAR! Amazing...
I wrote this song for him and for my family, and the rest of the aunts and uncles, moms and dads, and especially all the children. Now, after all these years, Nicholas is the father with his beautiful wife Jeny and their daughter Madison. She is naturally the most wonderful granddaughter in the world and it seemed high time that she is in on the story. She loves the Moon and Stars. It is wonderful to see her with all the Christmas seasons in front of her. I’m pretty sure she will be scanning the stars for “something wonderful” next week.
Here's wishing you a wonderful Holiday!
My sister Celeste Gantz came by the studio last week. Now, she's been singing for a long while, but I had no idea that she had refined it to this degree. I wanted to record her but didn't have anything ready. Then it hit me... after all, it is the season. I jotted down the words, played a scratch part on the piano, and bingo, she nailed it on the first take.
My friend Terence Disley came by later to add some real piano. After all, he was Sir Paul McCartney's keyboard man, so I figured that with a three chord Christmas song, he was up to the task... In fact, he had just posted a Jazz version of the Nutcracker, proof that he's an old Christmas softy like me.
“Lyrics:
There was a little boy, awake on Christmas Eve
waiting for the hour to come
He stares out the window pane, among the icy stars
for the one he was longing for
There, in the winter sky, high above the town
there was something moving fast
I cannot say for sure, but I think it was the One
that the boy was searching for
When the boy was fast asleep, up upon the roof
rose a sound unmistakable
Like a bell, ringing in the snow, for only those who know
was the sound of Christmas Eve!
There, in the other room, underneath the tree
there was something magical
I cannot say for sure, but I think it was the One
that the boy was searching for
Only one time a year the stars will move aside
for the One who rides the magic hour
And if you should see that One Red Star
Then you know he’s flying here to you!
His toys had lined up in the hall, peeking in the room
that was glowing all around
With a smile, he whispered to them all to go and tell the boy
that his Hour had finely come!
There, rising from the roof, high above the town
there was something wonderful
I cannot say for sure, but I think it was the One
that the boy was searching for
Only one time a year the stars will move aside
for the One who rides the magic hour
And if you should see that One Red Star
Then you know he’s flying here to you!”