For this year’s “Carols for the Cure”, Billy Elliot is performing a song by Jimmy Webb called “Incredible Phat (The Coldest Night of the Year)”. Originally part of “The Animal’s Christmas”, which is performed by Art Garfunkel, Amy Grant and a boys’ choir on an album you can still download from iTunes, although it is in fact 20 years old.
It is a beautiful song, much better when you understand the lyrics. My copy of “Carols for the Cure” should arrive on Nov 2nd, so I will let you know.
Unlike last year, when none of the three “original” Billys are part of “Cold Christmas” (Tommy B. did the “Billy” part), we know that at least Trent is on this one, along with Greg Jbara. Obviously there are some other cast members as well, or I at least assume so.
To purchase this year’s, go here: http://broadwaycares.stores.yahoo.net/brgrgicaforc6.html
To purchase last year’s, go here: http://broadwaycares.stores.yahoo.net/brgrgicaforc5.html
On the coldest night of the year
At a pub called the Elephant’s Ear,
Incredible Phat, the innkeeper’s cat,
Was having a saucer of beer
With fourteen merry gentlemen,
On the coldest night of the year.
As the hour of eleven drew near,
Some poor stranger in rags did appear
At the door of the inn,
Face weary and thin,
To ask, “Is there any room here?”
But the owner just laughed
And said, “My friend,
It’s the coldest night of the year.
“We’ve a shaikh with three wives,
And a moneylender,
A taxman, a soldier,
And a harness mender.
Three balmy old coots
In silver boots,
Two are stargazers
And the other’s a seer.”
Out into the night crystal clear
The stranger went, hiding a tear.
And Incredible Phat, the innkeeper’s cat,
Followed and saw standing near
A donkey bearing a pale sweet girl
Through the coldest night of the year.
While the barmaid
The priest and the diplomat
Bought one last round
For the acrobat,
And a spy with no chin,
Who had also come in
From the cold with
Herod’s surly charioteer.
But Phat said, “Friends, be of good cheer.
For I know of a shelter that’s near.”
And he led them out back,
To a tumble-down shack
Where the innkeeper’s wife kept a steer.
And he said, “It’s the warmest place in town,
On the coldest night of the year.”
Yes, he said, “It’s the warmest place in town,
On the coldest night of the year.”