The Cowboys' Christmas Ball

Album: (RED) Christmas EP (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Las Vegas Rock band The Killers are recognized for their work with the Product Red campaign, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. In 2006 they released their first Christmas themed song and music video, "A Great Big Sled," in aid of the charity. Their festive tunes have subsequently became an annual event and this is their sixth successive release intended to raise money for the Product Red campaign. The track was released as a digital download on December 1, 2011.
  • Speaking about the inspiration for the track, drummer Ronnie Vannucci told NME their original source was William Lawrence Chittenden's 1890 poem of the same name. "Brandon (Flowers) had a book of cowboy poetry and we took one of those and put music to it," he explained. "It's got this 1800s parlance, Western style. It's pretty upbeat and very down-home sounding - and overall pretty cool."
  • Back in 1991 Michael Martin Murphey adapted the same poem for a track on his festive album, Cowboy Christmas: Cowboy Songs II. (Some you might recall Murphey's 1972 top 40 hit, "Geronimo's Cadillac.")

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.