In 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas made its television debut. The producer of the special, Lee Mendelson, had heard a jazz tune by Vince Guaraldi as he was riding in a taxi over the Golden Gate Bridge. Mendelson got it touch with Guaraldi and hired him to write the music for A Charlie Brown Christmas, including Christmas Time Is Here. Guaraldi would go on to score sixteen more Peanuts specials and a feature film. The lyrics to this song were Mendelson’s own.
Last year, Daniela Andrade recorded a version with a simple guitar-and-vocal arrangement. I first heard that version last week and it inspired me to learn the song and try recording it myself. Except for the occasional sleigh bell there are no overdubs.
Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of year
Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share
Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there
Christmas time is here
We’ll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Words & Music by Mike Power 