Shakin' Stevens shares his Christmas message for Big Issue: 'A time to reflect and to think of others'

I’m often asked what I think makes for a great Christmas song – but believe me there is no magic formula. Although I will say that when first I heard the demo for “Merry Christmas Everyone”, albeit in the height of summer, the song instantly claimed all the ingredients for a traditional Christmas song – and one that deserved to be a number one hit record, that I just couldn’t wait to record.  

The opening lyrics waste no time in setting the scene, “Snow is falling, all around me, children playing, having fun, it’s the season, love and understanding, merry Christmas everyone” – and by then, my main attention is focused. The main key to the spirit of Christmas for me in the lyrics, is contained in the line “It’s the season, love and understanding…”  

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For me, personally, Christmas is not, and never has been, just a time to relax and share presents. It is a time to reflect and remind ourselves to think of others – and to find a way to bring happiness to those around us and, in a wider sphere, to help make a difference to the lives of others.

I grew up in a family of 13 children, so I know what it was like for my mother to have to think carefully on how to feed her children, while also giving them the nourishment we all needed to grow and flourish in our own way – 365 days a year.

Some years ago, my wife Sue and I started to research our family trees, and this led not only to a new album, Echoes of Our Times, but also to learning so much more about my grandmother, including the fact that she was a member of the Salvation Army for more than 80 years. In addition, many other members of the family were, and still are, salvationists, playing in the band, following in the footsteps of my grandmother.

Along the way, we gained more of an insight into the Salvation Army, and the long tradition of supporting those in their hour of need, not just markedly at Christmas time, when people struggle the most, but also throughout the year, and wanted to help illustrate the support that they provide to those in need, whether brought about by homelessness, loneliness, or abuse – and hopefully to help them raise funds for their good works.

Sitting with members of the team, viewing footage of their work, it was clear that Christmas is such an important time for the Salvation Army, when they need to take further big steps forward to help those of us in need and desperate circumstances, not just in the short term, but also to help turn their lives around.

It was obvious to us all that one way would be to use the filming of the Salvation Army, and combine it with a re-recording of the song “Merry Christmas Everyone”. So that’s what we did, and we hope that our recording helps to convey the good works of the Salvation Army, and assist them in promoting their causes.

Christmas is the busiest time of year for most charities, and it’s difficult to plan ahead for the support you can provide for those in need, until you are confident that you have the necessary funds to help, up-front.

So for more information or seek out your nearest church of the Salvation Army and give what you can to help them to demonstrate to those in need that people care and raise a smile.

PS. So I’m looking out the window, and what do I see?

Snow is falling, all around me…

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

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