Album Notes

Here is my holiday offering for 2011, and beyond. Maybe, seasonal is a better word. I can't think of December without thinking of Christmas, but then, I'm Irish Catholic, and at least in New York, with the lights, the trees on every corner, the nativity scenes, etc., it's hard not to be taken in by the Christmas spirit.
There's an old Laura Nyro album called "Christmas and the Beads of Sweat" that I've never gotten out of my system. When I moved to New York, her music took permanent hold of my soul. It echoes through my own music from time to time, including in this song.
I played guitar and piano, Nichelle Monroe sang the beautiful choir-like vocals, and Lee Currerri wrote and performed all the additional music.

Merry Christmas 2011
-LJM

December, December
December is the cruelest month
I stand alone by the window where the streetlight shines in
And all across the city, rain and wind

December, December
i'll say no prayers in December
in hopes the gods won't find us
Their moods turn dark this time of year
And to lose you now would be too cruel
That's my biggest fear

I stand vigil by your bed
And hold your hand all through the night
And if in our will, we can heal
Then I'll will you through to the morning light

December, December
The river is black beneath the ice
All living things have taken shelter from the night
As if to warn "your soul's in danger, take flight"

There's a reason man invented drink
it calms the mind, it quiets the soul
it takes the edge off of the night
From being so long and cold

Oh, holy night and all the stars are singing
I sing to myself to keep the voices in my head from ringing

December, December
I'll sleep long hours in December
Until the turn into January's light
And then I'll say a prayer for the fallen
Who could not bear the weight of December's night

December, December
December is the cruelest month