Story Behind The Song
The story goes something like...
... Alan Mann was late getting home to his girlfriend, and somewhere in West Phila-Overbrook, had a vision of the wonderful lights decorating a School For The Blind, feeling both the irony and magic of how that must be for those students, that their's is the most beautiful Christmas On The Block, and had the whole song written by the time he arrived.
Song Description
History & tradition have surrounded this folk song since it's 1st low-fi release & subsequent early MTV video, also supported by Yoko Ono, and loyal fans' requests thru-out the yrs. But Alan never had a chance for a studio quality recording before he was gone. Larry relays how not two weeks before, Alan Mann spoke at length with him near 24th on Walnut, Phila, outside his mgr's brownstone, about re-joining the band, he missed piano...
Ultimately, states Saklad, this has been a labor of love! albeit 25 years later.
| Song Length |
4:06 |
Genre |
Unique - Holiday, Folk - Rock |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
In High Spirits, Peaceful |
Subject |
Spirituality, Hope |
| Similar Artists |
John Cougar Mellencamp, The Hooters |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
Christmas On The Block- Alan Mann '86 rip '88, by permission- Mann family, 2011 by Larry Saklad, featuring Kenn Kweder blues-harp, Kim De Meo vocals.
There's a streetlight that sits above the night
and it shines it's gray light on the midnight air
and the houses twinkle on the block
but there's one house that shines a special way out there
It's Christmas in the city
and the trees are lighted pretty
but the prettiest Christmas tree of all,
They can see all the colors that we cannot
and theirs' is the most beautiful Christmas on the Block
Though they cannot see the light of day
and their night is forever the fact still remains
In this world of confusion there is peace
There is hope in despair sometimes the beauty is a beast
And they cannot see the lightning
and they cannot see the thunder
But they know what no-one understands
The beauty is a blessing, love is all we got
And theirs' is the most beautiful
Christmas on the Block
In the darkest corner of the night
only dreams illuminate their eyes
They can see all the colors that we cannot
And theirs' is the most beautiful
Christmas on the Block
The cannot see the lightning
and they cannot see the thunder
but they know what no-one understands
The beauty is a blessing, love is all we got
And theirs' is the most beautiful
Christmas on the Block