White Christmas

Irving Berlin, lyrics partially adapted by Keane

The sun's been hiding
The streets are grey
The rain has been falling down
Seems everyone wears a frown
For Christmas in London Town

It reminds me each time I roam
I'm longing to be back home

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas
Just like the ones we used to know
Where the tree tops glisten
And children listen
To hear, sleighbells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white


I'm dreaming of a White Christmas
Just like the ones we used to know
Where the tree tops glisten
And we all listen
To the Evening Session with Lammo
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Available from: Click here to download
Notes: Keane were asked to do a one-off cover for Steve Lamacq's Christmas show (in his house) in late December 2003. I've scoured the net, but can't find the first verse anywhere, so I'm assuming Keane rewrote them, as well as improvising in the last chorus. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Interestingly, Keane's version features the first verse which is frequently omitted from versions of the song - because Bing Crosby omited it in the film "White Christmas" as it was 'pointless' in the context of the film (the song was written before, and was meant to be ironic as Berlin hated Christmas!). The original words for the first verse are:

The sun is shining
The grass is green
The orange and palm trees sway
I've never seen such a day
In Beverly Hills LA

But it's December the 24th
And I am longing to be up North

I personally prefer Keane's!

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