GREG LAKE - I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS

Released: November 1975

Charts:  UK: #2   US: #95 

“I Believe in Father Christmas”, with lyrics by Peter Sinfield, is often viewed as a Christmas song, though Lake intended it as a protest against the commercialization of the holiday. Sinfield, however, described the lyrics as reflecting a loss of innocence and childhood belief. Released as Lake’s debut solo single in 1975, it achieved commercial success, reaching number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, number 17 in Ireland, number 95 in the US and number 98 in Australia.

Greg Lake and Pete Sinfield collaborated on “I Believe in Father Christmas” with distinct inspirations. Lake developed the cascading guitar riff and initially experimented with “Jingle Bells” over it, sparking the idea for a Christmas song. Sinfield drew on a childhood memory of seeing a beautifully decorated tree but expanded the lyrics to reflect deeper themes of disillusionment, consumerism, and the brainwashing of society. To balance the tone, he added a hopeful final verse before ending with the line, “The Christmas you get, you deserve,” a subtle play on the political phrase, “The government you get, you deserve.” Sinfield clarified that the song isn’t anti-religious or atheist but rather a humanist commentary on the holiday season.

The ending of “I Believe in Father Christmas” incorporates a segment from Sergei Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé Suite, an idea suggested by Keith Emerson. While Greg Lake composed the song’s original melody and collaborated with lyricist Pete Sinfield on the lyrics, Emerson arranged the track by integrating the Prokofiev piece. Lake, who produced the record, added the orchestra and choir to create its grand, festive sound.

The video for was filmed in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, and the Dead Sea Scroll caves in the West Bank—locations connected to the song’s religious undertones. Although conceptual music videos were rare at the time, this one helped boost the song’s popularity in the UK. Greg Lake later revealed the shoot was treacherous and challenging, admitting in hindsight that it was a risky endeavor. The choice of location aligned with the song’s deeper themes and origins.