Heavenly Hosts

Album: A Drummer Boy Christmas (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is one of two original songs written by For King and Country for their first festive album, A Drummer Boy Christmas. A celebration of the wonder and power of Christmas, it starts off with a sparse piano introduction that soon evolves into a full orchestra crescendo, with Joel and Luke Smallbone declaring, "Love has come to save us."
  • Joel Smallbone told American Songwriter the song was written during a "cyber tag team writing session" between producer Benjamin Backus in the studio and Luke Smallbone, who was back home.

    "Benjamin (Backus) sent him a piano line that he thought was festive that really ended up becoming the foundation of the song," Smallbone recalled. "They then started sending voice memos of lyrics and melodies back and forth, and the song really started to take form."
  • The idea for A Drummer Boy Christmas album dates back to a 2012 fall night. During rehearsals for a Christmas tour in an old factory, the Smallbone brothers dreamt up their rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy," which became a staple in For King and Country's live performances. Eight years later, after a sack-full of Christmas tours, singles and EPs, the duo finally completed their first ever full-length Christmas record.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The Girl in That Song

The Girl in That SongFact or Fiction

Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Dwight Twilley

Dwight TwilleySongwriter Interviews

Since his debut single "I'm On Fire" in 1975, Dwight has been providing Spinal-Tap moments and misadventure.

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.