The Story of... 'I Believe in Father Christmas' by Greg Lake

3 December 2020, 13:46 | Updated: 16 November 2022, 15:36

It's one of the most classic Christmas songs of all time, even if you might not know it by name.

Prog rock legend Greg Lake scored a surprise Christmas hit in 1975, and it remains a favourite decades later.

See more: The 20 worst Christmas songs of all time

But what inspired the song and what is it all about? Here's all the fascinating facts:

1. Who was Greg Lake?

   

   Greg Lake was an English bassist, guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer.

   He was best known as a founding member of the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP).

2. Who wrote 'I Believe in Father Christmas'?

   

   Greg Lake wrote the music, while Peter Sinfield wrote the lyrics.

   Sinfield was also a founding member of King Crimson, who wrote various hits for other artists including 'The Land of Make Believe' by King Crimson and Celine Dion's 'Think Twice'.

   See more: 7 classic Christmas songs that aren't actually about Christmas

3. 'I Believe in Father Christmas' meaning: What is it about?

   Although it is often considered a Christmas song, this was not Lake's intention.

   He said he wrote the song as a protest against the commercialisation of Christmas.

   However, Sinfield said that the lyrics are about a loss of innocence and childhood belief.

4. What is the classical piece of music featured?

   

   Prokofiev - Troika, Lieutenant Kije Suite, Op. 60 Arie Vardi conducts

   The instrumental riff between the verses comes from the 'Troika' portion of Sergei Prokofiev's Lieutenant Kijé Suite, which was written for the 1934 Soviet film Lieutenant Kijé.

   This was added after Lake's ELP bandmate Keith Emerson suggested it.

5. How did it perform in the charts?

   The song reached number two in the UK Singles Chart, and was kept from the Christmas number one by Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in 1975.

   Lake later said: "I got beaten by one of the greatest records ever made. I would’ve been pissed off if I’d been beaten by Cliff.

6. Where was the video filmed?

   

   Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas (Original Version - 4K Restored)

   The video was shot on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, and at the Dead Sea Scrolls caves in the West Bank.

   It also includes footage from the Vietnam War.

7. Who has covered it?

   

   I Believe in Father Christmas

   The song has been covered by several artists over the years, including:

   - Toyah Wilcox
   - Elaine Paige
   - Sarah Brightman
   - U2
   - Joe McElderry
   - Susan Boyle