Here is my holiday offering for 2011, and beyond. Maybe, seasonal is a better word. I can't think of December without thinking of Christmas, but then, I'm Irish Catholic, and at least in New York, with the lights, the trees on every corner, the nativity scenes, etc., it's hard not to be taken in by the Christmas spirit. There's an old Laura Nyro album called "Christmas and the Beads of Sweat" that I've never gotten out of my system. When I moved to New York, her music took permanent hold of my soul. It echoes through my own music from time to time, including in this song. I played guitar and piano, Nichelle Monroe sang the beautiful choir-like vocals, and Lee Currerri wrote and performed all the additional music. Merry Christmas 2011 -LJM December, December December is the cruelest month I stand alone by the window where the streetlight shines in And all across the city, rain and wind December, December i'll say no prayers in December in hopes the gods won't find us Their moods turn dark this time of year And to lose you now would be too cruel That's my biggest fear I stand vigil by your bed And hold your hand all through the night And if in our will, we can heal Then I'll will you through to the morning light December, December The river is black beneath the ice All living things have taken shelter from the night As if to warn "your soul's in danger, take flight" There's a reason man invented drink it calms the mind, it quiets the soul it takes the edge off of the night From being so long and cold Oh, holy night and all the stars are singing I sing to myself to keep the voices in my head from ringing December, December I'll sleep long hours in December Until the turn into January's light And then I'll say a prayer for the fallen Who could not bear the weight of December's night December, December December is the cruelest month