In case you were wondering at the time of my drafting this article how many days there were until Christmas:
That’s nothing. It’s like a nanosecond of a dream within a dream. What I look forward to most of all at Christmas is Santa’s arrival. And those that don’t believe in him, then I point you to this article – ‘I act as if Santa Claus Exists‘:
People have often asked me (especially around this time of year) if I believe in Santa Claus… and I don’t like that question because it’s an attempt to box me up, to put a bow on me in a sense. It’s like, what do you mean, “believe”? We know what Santa looks like. We know what he sounds like. We know how he behaves. We put up pictures and statues of him. We even make offerings to him! Do I believe the man at the mall with the white beard is the one and only Santa? Crowds are addressing him as Santa and he is responding to the name “Santa” and answering AS Santa as such, so to some extent at least, he is real. To the degree he is a “good” Santa he is transcending his material substrate to give rebirth to the neurological patterns of the eternal spirit of Santa as it has descended across time. It’s like, is that “real” enough for you? In the Jungian sense you could argue that in that moment he is more real than real.
I believe Bob Dylan had this axiom in mind, when he recorded ‘Must Be Santa‘. Derr, it’s a Christmas song written by Hal Moore and Bill Fredericks and first released in November 1960 by Mitch Miller.
[Verse 1]
Who’s got a beard that’s long and white?
Santa’s got a beard that’s long and white
Who comes around on a special night?
Santa comes around on a special night
[Chorus 1]
Special night, beard that’s white
Must be Santa, must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus
[Verse 2]
Who wears boots and a suit of red?
Santa wears boots and a suit of red
Who wears a long cap on his head?
Santa wears a long cap on his head
[Chorus 2]
Cap on head, suit that’s red
Special night, beard that’s white
Must be Santa, must be Santa
Must be Santa, Santa Claus
[Verse 3]
Who’s got a big red cherry nose?
Santa’s got a big red cherry nose
Who laughs this way: “Ho, ho, ho”?
Santa laughs this way: “Ho, ho, ho”
The ‘Advent‘ in Catholicism means the beginning of XMAS which is 4 weeks before the 25th of December (Christ’s birth). That’s when Dylan’s album ‘Christmas in the Heart‘ is reborn and gets a good ol’ merry replaying on the turntable. Don’t even get me started on his version of Little Drummer Boy – big.. huge fan of that one!
In November 2009, Bob Dylan released a version of the song in a polka-meets-klezmer style (based on an arrangement by Brave Combo, whose version he had played on Theme Time Radio Hour) for his Christmas album, Christmas in the Heart. 11 years after its release, Must Be Santa placed 24th in a Rolling Stone article about the “25 Best Bob Dylan Songs of the 21st Century” where critic Amanda Martoccio called the song “zany” and the “centerpiece” of Christmas in the Heart.
References:
1. Must Be Santa (song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Good idea…I think next year I will have a Christmas in July day.
Of course I like this song…we have talked about it but I was shocked and amused when I heard he had a Christmas Album…then I thought…why not? I love it.
I’m afraid, it wasn’t purposeful to put a XMAS music post in July. It’s just how it came out in alphabetical order. But now you having mentioned it, I’m glad that it did come out as a renewal of sorts of the festive season. It’s a pretty cool album although I had my reservations at first.
Well… you did good… I’m copying your idea next year! It’s worth it just for the shock.
The lyrics in ‘Must Be Santa’ are so good and what Dylan did in his adaption is outstanding. It’s easily my kids favourite XMAS song although ‘O Holy Night’ is up there with the versions by David Hobson, Aled Jones & Patti Smith. That’s my favourite carol hands down. ‘Jerusalem’ by Hobson is also high up on the list as well:
Silent Night is mine…
Jerusalem sounds really good…there are not many carols I don’t like…Little Drummer Boy is not a favorite for some reason but the rest I like.
I now remember you saying that about ‘Silent Night’. I luv Little Drummer Boy, always have since a wee-tracker. ‘Horses for courses’ as they say. ‘That’s a hard carol to screw up if there’s a drum thrown in there somewhere. Hehe.
I don’t hate it…but not my favorite…I do enjoy watching the Bowie and Bing Crosby version because it’s just so out there.
LOL
I remember you posting on that. That’s some mix of styles there – Bowie and Crosby!
All credit to you Matthew this had me laughing very very loudly!
Hi Sharon. I’m thrilled. Which part had you had you laughing out loud? The quote or the video?
The video Matt, for sure! So funny!
Dylan did another video, even more unusual than ‘Must Be Santa’ venturing into ‘macabre’ for his single from his ‘Tempest’ album (2012) called ‘Duquesne Whistle’. I love it, but it becomes a different beast in the latter part, so be prepared. In case you were interested, here it is:
All that for pinching a rose!!! That poor guy!! Amusing!
Yes and for the guy he toppled from the ladder. They teamed up it appears.